Scientists developed the Oxford-Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine in United Kingdom. Although British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical company Astra Zeneca makes it. There have been extremely rare blood clots in patients after they received a vaccine dose. However, these are more likely to be a side-effect of the infection itself. Breaking news research finally reveals the mechanism behind Astra Zeneca blood clots.
How the Mechanism Behind Astra Zeneca Blood Clots Works
James Gallagher is health and science correspondent at UK channel BBC News. He chatted with researchers at Cardiff University and explains this as follows:
1… Astra Zeneca vaccine comprises genetic material from the COVID-19 virus, plus a weaker version of the common cold variety.
2… First, medical professionals inject this into the patient’s [upper arm]muscle. However it may also enter their blood stream on rare occasions.
3… Once in the blood stream, the vaccine may attract attention of platelet factor 4. However, this normally promotes blood thickening to slow flow after injury.
4… But on rare occasions the vaccine recipient’s immune system may confuse the innocent platelet factor 4 for the COVID virus.
5… When this happens – and only very rarely – the immune system releases antibodies that clump around the platelet and cause the blood to clot.
The Adenovirus and Platelet 4 are Like a Magnet
This mechanism behind the Astra Zeneca blood clots serves as the initial trigger, according to Cardiff University Prof Alan Parker. ‘The adenovirus has an extremely negative surface,’ he says. ‘And platelet factor four is extremely positive and the two things fit together quite well.’ However, he goes on to explain that is not the end of the search.
There are other, undiscovered factors we don’t yet understand. Why are some people more susceptible to blood clotting? And why does this occur most frequently in the brain and liver, for example? More work is needed, including research to tweak the Astra Zeneca vaccine itself. However, at least researchers at Cardiff University and Astra Zeneca are making progress.
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Preview Image: Platelet 4 Interacts with Vaccine
