Category: Vaccine

CHARLESTON, W.Va (AP) West Virginia voters ousted the Republican state Senate president on Tuesday, as well as a doctor who drew fire for breaking with his party over school vaccination policy.

They were among at least eight incumbent GOP legislators who lost in the states primary elections.

In the states eastern panhandle, U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret veteran Tom Willis defeated Republican Senate President Craig Blair, who has helmed the chamber since 2021. And State Health and Human Resources Chair Sen. Mike Maroney was defeated by Chris Rose, a utility company electrician and former coal miner.

Maroneys loss came after he publicly advocated against a bill pushed by the Republican caucus that would have allowed some students who dont attend traditional public institutions or participate in group extracurriculars like sports to be exempt from vaccinations typically required for children starting day care or school.

West Virginia is only one of a handful of states in the U.S. that offers only medical exemptions to vaccine requirements. Maroney, a radiologist from Marshall County, called the bill an embarrassment on the Senate floor and said he believed lawmakers were harming the state.

Messages left for Blair, Maroney and Rose werent immediately returned Wednesday.

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In an email response to questions from The Associated Press, Willis said he believes his personal experiences helped him build relationships with voters.

I believe I was able to connect at a heart level with many voters due to the losses I have suffered, he wrote. I was surprised how many voters had also lost a spouse, or had lost a child, as I have, or been a single parent, as I have. I think I was able to meet people where they were and connect, because I have been there also.

Willis said he looks forward to listening to the voices of voters in the Eastern Panhandle and vowed to carry their best interests to Charleston.

All 100 seats in the state House of Delegates were up for a vote, and 17 out of 34 state Senate seats. Fourteen Republican incumbents were up for reelection, with nine facing challengers. Four incumbents lost to challengers, including Blair, Maroney, Sen. Robert Karnes and Sen. Chandler Swope.

At least four Republican incumbents lost their House of Delegates primaries: Diana Winzenreid, David Adkins, Heather Tully and Don Forsht.

Unaffiliated voters have been allowed to participate in Republican primaries in West Virginia since 1986, but this year marked the last time they could do that. The state GOP voted in January to close its primary to registered Republicans only starting in 2026. According to the secretary of states website, 24.7% of West Virginia registered voters have no party affiliation.

That last chance to vote in the GOP primary for unaffiliated voters could be one reason for an apparent jump in voter participation this year. According to unofficial totals, more than 224,000 West Virginia adults voted in the GOP presidential race. That compares with 198,000 in the 2020 GOP presidential primary and 157,000 in 2016.

In Maroneys race, Rose had the backing of West Virginians for Health Freedom, a group that advocates against vaccine mandates.

During the debate about this years vaccine bill, which was ultimately vetoed by Republican Gov. Jim Justice, Maroney said: I took an oath to do no harm. Theres zero chance I can vote for this bill.

West Virginia law requires children to receive vaccines for chickenpox, hepatitis-b, measles, meningitis, mumps, diphtheria, polio, rubella, tetanus and whooping cough, unless they receive a medical exemption. West Virginia does not require COVID-19 vaccinations.

Alicia West Fancher, a mother who lives in a neighboring district to Maroneys, is a member of West Virginians for Health Freedom and pushed for Roses election, said decisions about vaccines should be made by families, not legislators.

To me, theyre playing God over the health of my children, she said. They dont get to decide whats right for my children. I get to decide with Gods help. Its really sick to me to see all these politicians making health care choices over my family.

Maroney also lost favor with some Republicans last year when he spoke against a total ban on medical interventions for transgender adolescents, like puberty blockers and hormone therapy. During one meeting of his committee, he told fellow lawmakers he believed it was wrong for a group of mostly medically uneducated people to pass laws that would prohibit proven medical treatments.

Maroney likened banning hormone therapy to barring the use of drugs to treat mental health disorders and cancer.

In one of the most contested races of the night, Republican incumbent Sen. Patricia Rucker narrowly defeated Del. Paul Espinosa. Espinosa was recruited to run for the state Senate after Rucker said she planned to challenge Blair for the Senate presidency. Facing pressure from Blair and other Senate leaders, she later dropped out of the Senate president race, but she was removed as Senate education committee chair.

Rucker endorsed Willis in his matchup against Blair.

Blair served three terms in the Senate, including the last three years as president. Before that, Blair spent seven years in the House of Delegates.

Willis has served more than two decades with the National Guard and is a real estate attorney. The Hedgesville resident is co-owner of the Glen Ferris Inn overlooking the picturesque Kanawha Falls in Fayette County. In 2018, Willis finished fourth among six candidates in a U.S. Senate GOP primary.

Continued here:

West Virginia GOP Senate president, doctor who opposed drawing back vaccine laws ousted in election - The Associated Press

KOLKATA: Concern over the efficacy of Covid vaccines has become the latest tool in the hands of fraudsters to dupe gullible citizens into revealing their personal information, including Aadhaar number and bank details, say cops. Several Kolkatans have recently received calls from persons claiming to be from the health department, inquiring whether they were administered Covishield or Covaxin, and then proceeding to collect personal details like Aadhaar number. Some others have received IVRS (interactive voice response system) calls with a recorded voice, also seeking vaccine-related information. "The recorded voice first asks whether a person has taken a Covid vaccine. If yes, he or she is asked to press a button, usually 1 for Covishield and 2 for Covaxin. Thereafter, the phone freezes and network disappears for a few hours," said an officer from Kolkata Police's cyber cell. While none has lost any money yet, cyber experts believe these are attempts by cyber crooks to take control of a person's phone to collect personal and financial information and access bank accounts. Cops have repeatedly warned citizens to be alert while receiving calls from unknown numbers and advised against sharing personal information, bank account det-ails and OTPs. Risk from vax minimal, no need to panic: Docs In light of the latest fraud, police point out that doctors and researchers have asked citizens not to be unduly worried about the health impact of Covishield vaccine. "No drug or vaccine is absolutely safe. Given the positive impact of this vaccine on millions, the associated risk is minimal. The worries and anxiety around thrombosis thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) with Covishield is unwarranted. There is no need to panic," said Santanu K Tripathi, professor and former head of clinical and experimental pharmacology at STM. According to Tripathi, around 85 crore people got two doses but only 36 cases of Covishield-related TTS were reported, including 18 deaths. "Despite the trend of under-reporting of any drug- or vaccine-associated adverse experience and low treatment-seeking behaviour in India, the incidence of TTS related to Covishield is very low," he said.

Continued here:

Covishield scare is scamsters' latest weapon to get your personal information - The Times of India

By John Ely Senior Health Reporter For Mailonline and Rebecca Whittaker For Mailonline 13:06 16 May 2024, updated 13:14 16 May 2024

Britons who suffered severe side effects from the Covid vaccine have been paid 20million by the Government, MailOnline can reveal.

Data acquired under the Freedom of Information Act shows 168 people have been told they are eligible for the Vaccine Damage Payment a 120,000 tax-free sum due to injuries from a Covid jab.

Almost all of these are related theAstraZenecavaccine, which triggered a blood clotting complication that was so rare it was missed in original clinical trials.

Another 592 claims are waiting for an outcome, meaning the bill could rise closer to the 100million mark, if they are accepted.

More than 11,000 claims had been made by April this year double the number submitted in the previous year.

However, the vast majority have been rejected.

While some were due to victims being unable to be prove their injuries were caused by a vaccine, at least 324 applicants were told it was because their injury did not meet a 60 per cent severe disability threshold.

This means that even though their injury is accepted to have been caused by a jab, they won't see a penny. This is even if they are assessed by a medic as being 59 per cent disabled.

The 60 per cent threshold, which covers injuries like losing a limb, a sense like your sight, or complete paralysis, is one of many criticisms of the scheme.

You may have had a combined vaccination against a number of the diseases listed. For example, you might have been vaccinated against DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) or MMR (measles, mumps and rubella).

You may also be able to get a payment if youre severely disabled because either:

Source: Gov.uk

It comes amid calls to overhaul the existing scheme, boosting the payment as well as reforming its eligibility criteria and payout structure.

One of the key criticisms cited by campaigners is the all-or-nothing payment of 120,000.

They argue the payment doesn't go far enough for those most severely disabled by a vaccine injury, such as those who have suffered brain injuries, unable to work and facing ongoing care costs for the rest of their lives.

However, those who receive a payout under the scheme can still pursue private legal action against the Government to secure more damages.

Campaigners note that the 120,000 figure was set in 2007 and hasn't kept pace with inflation and the rising cost of living.

According to figures from the Bank of England, if the sum had increased alongside inflation payments, it would now be just over 195,000.

Another criticism is the length of time it takes for victims to get payment.

MailOnline has spoken to some successful applicants who had to wait nearly two yearsto see a penny of the 120,000 sum.

They said this added to stress of being unable to work due to disability and having to rely on their savings to survive.

Others have previously told this website how year-long delays had left them with no option but to sell their homes and rely on food banks.

And some families, surviving on benefits such as Universal Credit following the death or disability of a main breadwinner from a jab injury, have had this state support reduced or removed entirely, with Government classifying the 120,000 as 'income'.

But some Brits never see a penny at all, due to the scheme's 60 per cent disability cut-off.

Those injured by a vaccine must either be killed or be at least 60 per cent disabled by their injury, as assessed by a medic, for they or their families to get any money.

This feature, described as 'cruel' by critics, means Brits with lesser, but with potentially still life changing injuries, get nothing.

Campaigners have called for 120,000 all-or-nothing payment to be reformed so those with lesser injuries still get something in recognition of their suffering.

At the other end of the scale, those severely disabled by the jab say the 120,000 doesn't recognise the differing extent of their injuries.

Under the current 60 per cent threshold, someone who loses one leg to a jab complication gets the same amount as someone paralysed for the rest of their life.

The Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme (VDPS) was originally set up in the 1970s.

The way it measures disability causes difficulties Sonia Macleod, Oxford University

It is, in principle, meant to encourage Brits to get vaccines in the interest of public health and stopping the spread of disease by providing support in the rare event of vaccine complication.

An update to the payout total isn't unprecedented, the scheme originally launched with a 10,000 sum which was subsequently topped up.

However, despite the scheme receiving a huge surge in claims during the Covid vaccine rollout, it hasn't been updated.

Critics say this could put the future of public health in the UK risk as Brits see those who got a jab in the name of public good are left destitute and vaccine uptake drops as a result.

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Sonia Macleod, a senior research fellow at Oxford University's Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, is one of those calling for a rethink of the current scheme.

She told MailOnline: 'The way it measures disability causes difficulties, claimants are often not clear about what the thresholds are and how their own condition will be measured.

'Ideally, you want a scheme to be clear and simple for users to understand, that is not the experience that VDPS users have shared with us.'

MsMacleod said it would 'logical' for the Government to 'regularly review' VDPS payments in light of inflation.

She believes there is a need for a 'wider discussion' among the public and policymakers about the intended purpose of the scheme.

She said: 'Is the payment simply a government recognition of the fact that someone has been harmed when acting for the common good? Or is it intended to compensate the harmed individual for the injuries they have suffered?

'If you want a scheme to function as an alternative to litigation, then you need to ensure there is parity between the amount an individual would get under the scheme and in court, which we clearly do not have.'

Ms Macleod also called for greater transparency in how the VDPS came to its decisions for applicants.

She said similar schemes in Europe allowed an applicant to see the process of their application, as well the documents being used, in real time on an online system which she said had numerous benefits.

'It makes it easy for claimants to see where in the claims process they are, and allows for the claimant voice to be heard throughout the process,' she said.

'Even if an individual doesnt agree with the end decision, they understand the process and the reasoning that went into it.'

The VDPS is managed by a health service branch called the NHS Business Service Authority (NHSBSA) which took over management of the scheme in late 2021from the Department for Work and Pensions.

A spokesperson claimed claims to the VDPS can take a long time to process due to delays getting the necessary health documents.

'It can take significant time for some healthcare providers to send us full medical records so that a claim can be assessed. This has caused delays to a number of claims, and we acknowledge this can be frustrating,' they said.

'A medical assessment for each claim can only commence once we receive full medical records from a claimants GP, medical providers, local authorities, and other relevant healthcare providers.

'We do not have automatic access to these medical records. We are therefore reliant on healthcare providers to promptly and securely send them to us.'

The spokesperson added that NHSBSA is working with healthcare providers to find ways to speed up this process.

They added that the total claims figures included in the FOI data will include some duplicate claims from people who have previously been told they are ineligible. Such claims are automatically rejected, they added.

NHSBSA also said they have significantly expanded the number of staff working on the VDPS since they took responsibility for it 2021.

Of the 168 claimants have been notified that they are entitled to a Vaccine Damage Payment, fewer than five are fromPfizer or Moderna's Covid jabs, the rest are related to the AstraZeneca Covid jab.

AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine, developed by scientists from the prestigious Oxford University, is being withdrawn from global markets according to a recent announcement.

It follows 51 British families taking the pharma giant to court,arguing the vaccine was 'a defective product' that was 'not as safe as consumers generally were reasonably entitled to expect'.

The pharmaceutical titan has strongly denied these claims.

AstraZeneca's jab, hailed as anexample of British ingenuity became a pariah a few short months after it was rolled out to world following the revelation of the unexpected rare clotting side effect.

The withdrawal comes months after the company admitted in legal documents that its jab can cause the thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) reaction.

TSS is thought to have struck about one in 50,000 people who had the jab.

Despite this the jab itself is cited by experts as a success, saving an estimated 6.5million lives from Covid and ending the paralysing wave of lockdowns.

While no changes to the VDPS have been announcedHealth Secretary Victoria Atkins hasasked officials in her department to look into how it could be reformed.

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Pay-outs for Covid vaccine injuries exceed 20million amid calls to boost 'outdated' compensation fee to almos - Daily Mail

With the advent of technology, the risk of cyber crimes has increased. From Phishing to identity theft, scammers are adopting new tactics every day and coming up with new techniques to cheat people of their money. Now, a new type of cyber fraud has been making the headlines. Many new cases have been filed at the cyber cells in Delhi. Feedback calling is a new way for people to save money. It is one of the basic facilities which the company provides and now the cyber scammers have found a way to extract money from the citizens.

From online payment to credit and debit card payments, after availing of any facility online, companies and banks often call you and take feedback. Nowadays, due to cyber security, many banks have also made it mandatory to take feedback from the customer by calling the registered mobile phone before finalising any payment, so that no other person can cheat the customer of the money.

Cybercriminals are now executing their deceitful tasks through this facility. A feedback call regarding the coronavirus vaccine enquired the citizens about doses and experience of the vaccination camp. You might have also given such feedback. Now, with the new technique by cyber fraudsters pressing one button can cause huge harm to you.

Cyber expert Kislay Chaudhary associated with Delhi Police, says that this time, another cyber fraud has been introduced in the market of deceit. In this, an unknown call comes from any number. A girl reportedly asks you whether you have taken the Covid vaccine or not. If yes then press one otherwise press two. Usually, when people have got the vaccine, they immediately press the button for feedback and get trapped in the net of a scam.

Kislay explains that the phone hangs as soon as you press one or two buttons. Cyber hackers get access to the bank accounts name and number. Many cases of fraud in the name of Covid vaccine have reached the police. Therefore, the police are now cautioning them to receive any unnecessary calls.

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There's A New Cyber Scam In Market, It's Covid Vaccine Feedback Calls - News18

Over a week after AstraZeneca announced a global withdrawal of its vaccine against coronavirus citing a slowdown in sales and availability of enough options in the market, new research has linked it to a rare disorder.

Researchers found that the AstraZeneca vaccine, sold in India under the brand name Covishield, is linked to a rare blood clotting disorder called Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis (VITT).

Read More

According to the scientists from Flinders University, Australia, who recently shared their study in the New England Journal of Medicine, VITT emerged in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly after the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which is based on adenovirus vectors.

Scientists discovered that VITT is caused by a harmful blood autoantibody targeting a protein called platelet factor 4 (PF4). Separate research in 2023 revealed a similar, sometimes fatal disorder linked to natural adenovirus infections, such as the common cold, involving the same PF4 antibody.

An autoantibody is a type of antibody produced by the immune system that mistakenly targets and attacks the body's own tissues, thinking they are foreign invaders. This can lead to autoimmune diseases, where the immune system harms healthy cells and tissues.

Affected patients often develop blood clots in unusual places like the brain or the abdomen. They also have high levels of a substance called D-dimer in their blood.

Flinders University researchers, Dr Jing Jing Wang and Professor Tom Gordon, previously identified a genetic risk factor related to the PF4 antibody in 2022.

Their recent collaboration with international researchers found that PF4 antibodies in both vaccine-related VITT and natural adenovirus infections share identical molecular signatures.

This new study, using a novel method developed at Flinders University, shows that a common factor in viruses and vaccines triggers these harmful antibodies.

The research suggests that the mechanisms of antibody production in these disorders are nearly identical and share similar genetic risk factors.

Professor Gordon explained that these findings have significant clinical implications. The lessons learnt from VITT can apply to rare blood clotting cases after natural adenovirus infections and can help improve vaccine safety.

SHOULD YOU BE WORRIED?

According to the American Society of Hematology, vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) occurs within 4 to 42 days of taking the Covid vaccine. Therefore, there's no need to worry. Symptoms could include severe headache, visual changes, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, back pain, shortness of breath, leg pain or swelling and easy bruising or bleeding.

Published By:

Daphne Clarance

Published On:

May 16, 2024

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Excerpt from:

AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine linked to another rare blood disorder - India Today

Vaccination against 14 diseases over the past five decadesranging from diphtheria to yellow feverhas played a pivotal role in slashing infant mortality rates by 40 percent on a global scale. Remarkably, in the African Region, this impact has been even more profound, with a reduction exceeding 50 percent.

Among the vaccines examined, measles vaccination emerged as the most influential in reducing infant mortality, responsible for saving 60 percent of lives through immunization. With its unparalleled efficacy, this vaccine is poised to continue leading the charge in safeguarding lives and bolstering global health efforts for generations to come.

But these are not just numbers. Behind each digit lies a story of a child who can grow up to adulthood, of parents spared from the agony of loss. Among the saved, are 101 million infants who, thanks to vaccines, now have the opportunity to grow, thrive, and explore the world around them.

The impressive outcomes of this study, the most extensive examination of historical vaccine impact to date, arrive just ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in May 2024. These achievements wouldnt have been possible without EPI, born in 1974 with a noble mission: to shield children from deadly and debilitating diseases like diphtheria, measles, and polio. Back then, less than 5% of infants had access to routine immunization. Today, that number is an impressive 84%. The progress achieved over the last half-century is truly awe-inspiring, a testament to the unwavering dedication of governments, global collaborators, scientists, healthcare professionals, civil society, volunteers, and parents worldwide. Despite decades of progress increasing access to immunizations in lower-income countries, the stark reality remains: in 2022, over 14 million children globally were left without a single vaccine dose. These zero-dose children embody communities with compounded vulnerabilities who are not just missing out on vaccines but also on a much wider range of essential services. By continuing to invest in immunization, we can ensure that every child, every person, has the opportunity to thrive in good health and productivity.

The pandemic years have posed unprecedented challenges, undoing years of progress in the blink of an eye. That's why campaigns like "Humanly Possible: Immunization for All", launched during World Immunization Week at the end of April, are needed, for continued vigilance and support. Humanly Possible: Immunization for All

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the global community and all those who contributed to making this years campaign unforgettable. We garnered over 1,300 mentions in the media, including notable outlets such as Le Monde, AFP, EFE, DPA, TASS, VOX, MSN, Belga, Infobae, La Vanguardia, and La Nacion. Landmarks like the Jet-d'eau in Geneva illuminated in magenta, alongside numerous events worldwide - including launching ceremonies, webinars, and photo exhibits - further underscored the achievements of immunization. Not to mention, the campaign received tremendous support on social media, with influential figures like football legend David Beckham, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, amplifying the campaign's message.

Now, we must sustain the momentum of "Humanly Possible." Now more than ever, we must safeguard immunization progress in every corner of the globe and intensify even further our efforts to reach the 67 million children who missed out on one or more vaccines during the pandemic years.

A new dawn in the fight against meningitis

Looking ahead, there's renewed optimism in the battle against meningitis, as global leaders gathered for the inaugural high-level meeting to defeat meningitis by 2030, asserting unanimity in the feasibility of this goal with sufficient resources and coordinated efforts. Co-hosted by WHO and the Government of France under the patronage of President Emmanuel Macron, the event convened stakeholders from diverse sectors, including Member States, experts, donors, the private sector, civil society, and Paralympic athletes preparing for the Paris 2024 Games, all demonstrating unwavering commitment to eradicating this disease.

Meningitis, a swift and severe disease with profound health, economic, and social ramifications, disproportionately affects individuals, particularly in the meningitis belt spanning 26 sub-Saharan African countries.

While the objectives outlined in the roadmap are ambitious and forward-thinking, the foundation of collaboration laid by Member States, technical experts, and leaders representing civil society, academia, and the private sector instills confidence in our collective ability to defeat this insidious disease, thereby fostering a fairer, more resilient world for generations to come. Strengthening malaria immunization efforts in Nigeria

I was honoured to be in Nigeria recently to support the rethinking of approaches to address the countrys high malaria burden, to make the most impactful use of recommended tools, including strategic use of malaria vaccines in that mix to reduce childhood mortality from malaria. Young children are at high risk of dying from malaria; malaria vaccines have been shown to substantially reduce early childhood deaths in public health use through the WHO-coordinated Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme, and wider roll out of vaccines in Africa is underway.

The Ministerial Roundtable on Rethinking Malaria Elimination, was organized by the Nigeria Ministry of Health through the leadership of the Honourable Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate. The roundtable brought together myriad partners and stakeholders to discuss actions that were announced ahead of the high-level dialogue. Nigeria has the worlds largest burden of malaria, with more than a quarter of the world's cases, and one-third of global deaths, most of whom are young children and pregnant women. WHO supports countries as they use national data for subnational tailoring of malaria interventions, including malaria vaccines, for highest impact.

There is new hope in the ongoing battle against dengue, one of the most important mosquito-borne diseases in the world: WHO has added the Dengue Tetravalent Vaccine Qdenga to its list of prequalified vaccines. In recent decades, dengue incidence has skyrocketed, with a ten-fold surge in reported cases from 2000 to 2019. This alarming trend shows no signs of slowing down, driven by factors such as urbanization, dense populations, increased global mobility, and the effects of climate change. The prequalification means larger access to vaccines as a key tool to prevent dengue in young children and adults. This achievement not only enhances global health efforts but also provides a vital boost in combating this debilitating disease.

Finally, as we anticipate the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly, themed "All for Health, Health for All, May 27 to June 1, urgent action is imperative to achieve the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030), target of halving the number of zero-dose children by 2030. Intensified efforts are needed to reach millions of children in humanitarian settings, often the most vulnerable and underserved. Innovative approaches and robust partnerships will be crucial in reaching these unreached populations and ensuring equitable access to life-saving vaccines. Financial commitments must align with WHO recommendations to guarantee that all children, up to the age of five, receive the vaccinations they need to thrive.

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Message by the Director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals at WHO - April 2024 - World Health Organization (WHO)

A taxi driver has been left unable to drive or even walk more than 20 metres after getting the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.

Self-employed Adrian Walker, from Grantham, Lincolnshire, had the jab in February2021 to 'protect others', including vulnerable children he helped take to school.

But just two weeks later the previously healthy marathon runner was fighting for his life, admitted to hospitalwith multiple blood clots in his lungs and bowel.

The ordeal left him struggling with short-term memory, breathlessness and fatigue.

Mr Walker was diagnosed withvaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) in late March 2021, with medics confirming it was a result of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Three years on from getting the jab, he told MailOnline how VITT had laid him low despite his good health.

'I was an extremely healthy and fit 47-year-old, a non-smoker who rarely drank, a sub four-hour marathon runner and a former semi-professional football referee,' he said.

Mr Walker claimed his life 'has flipped on its head' and he is no longer able to drive or run.

Like many others who signed up for the historic Covid jab rollout, Mr Walker, a grandfather, said he was motived to do so for altruistic reasons.

He explained that during the pandemic he often ferriedvulnerable children back and forth to school, some of whom were disabled and at a high risk of the virus if they were to be infected.

'I was never worried about catching Covid myself as I was fit and healthy. It was more to protect others,' he said.

Soon after getting jabbed, Mr Walker began to feel unwell.However, he brushed it off, assuming they were theflu-like symptoms he had been warned of as a potential vaccine side effect.

Even when he started to feel worse, he wasn't that concerned, theorising that because it was February he might have caught a cold, or a feeling of lightheaded-ness was due to not having had his dinner.

But 10 days after getting the vaccine, he recalled 'feeling really rough' and even called in sick to work, something Mr Walker had rarely done.

He even decided to get a Covid test, but it came back negative.

However, the seriousness of his condition became apparent when he started experiencing chest pains and was told to go to hospital.He packed an overnight bag and was given steroids and blood tests.

Mr Walker's blood tests came back with worrying results. His platelet levels were just seven, vastly below the normal range for person of between 150,000 to 350,000 per microliter of blood.

Platelets typically help the blood to clot. Other blood tests conducted on Mr Walker were also extremelyworrying.

His D-dimer levels, a test doctors use to check for blood clots, was 56,000 drastically above the 500 score considered normal.

Mr Walker was then takenvia an ambulance to another hospital.He would remain there for over a month.

Scans revealed he had multiple clots in his lungs and in the portal vein from his bowel.

So dire was his condition that a week after Mr Walker's was admitted to hospital his wife CJ, 47, was called in and told to prepare for his death.

Mr Walker said that, at the time, he had no idea how serious his condition was.

'I knew I was really ill, but with how fit and healthy I normally am, I wasn't concerned as such,' he said.

'To be honest to a degree I probably never really knew what was going on.Although I was always consciousI probably wasn't coherent all the time.

'My wife would tell me that I would ring her up and tell her something and call her again five minutes later andI could not recall having a conversation with them five minutes previously.'

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VITT is thought to be linked to at least 81 deaths in the UK, according to figures collated by UK drug watchdog, the MHRA.

The complication now listed as a potential side-effect of the jab causesblood clots along with a low platelet count.

It is exceedingly rare, given the millions of doses dished out during the roll-out. The risk is thought to be in the region of one in 50,000, with the risk dying from it lower.

But at the time Mr Walker's was jabbed no one had yet linked the AstraZeneca vaccine to VITT, also calledthrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).

The connection would only be made after a series of cases in Europe in March, around the time Mr Walker was hospitalised.

UK regulators would only start restricting the use of the jab in April that year.

Mr Walker recalls mentioning feeling unwell after the AstraZeneca jab to the medics treating him, but at the time he didn't think much of it.

'I remember saying to the consultant that I hadn't been well since I had the vaccine. I wasn't saying it was that, but I thought it was strange,' Mr Walker said.

Mr Walker said VITT had affected both his everyday life and his ability to work since 2021.

'I struggle to walk 20 metres, I am constantly short of breath, I suffer with really bad short term memory loss and I am not allowed to drive because of the fatigue,' he said.

He added another impact had been on his personal life and ability to spend time with his loved ones.

'I've not been able to work, I can't be the father, the husband or the grandfather I wanted to be,' he said.

'I can't play football with my grandson, he loves to go to junior park run, I can't go running with him.

'It just feels like life has just literally flipped on its head and you know. I depended on my wife, I could not live independently.

'I dream of just being able to walk to a pup, go in the pub, have a pint, stand at the bar and walk home just something that everybody takes for granted.'

While medics were suspicious his illness was caused by the vaccine, it wasn't until researchers linked the AstraZeneca vaccine and rare cases of blood clotting with a low platelet count.

Four weeks after he was admitted to hospital he got the diagnosis in writing, in late March 2021.

'I left hospital on April 4, so I'd been in there for 34 days, and I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I got wheeled out of those doors and my wife met me at the door of a car. I was still very ill then,' Mr Walker recalled.

But even though he had been injured as a result of the vaccine, he was still unaware of the Government's little-known vaccine damage payment scheme.

He only learnt about it until 'by chance' when another person who was injured from the vaccine told him about the scheme on social media.

But even then, he had to wait almost two years to receive the 120,000 pay-out, which he now calls'not fit for purpose'.

'I applied to the government's vaccine damage scheme and was eventually paid in April 2023, some 21 months after I applied,' Mr Walker said.

The Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, originally set up in the 70s, offers those who have been injured, or their families in cases of death, a 120,000 tax-free sum.

This policy covers an array of vaccines recommended by the Government, such as the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, and was extended to include Covid jabs during the pandemic.

In principle, the scheme is meant to reassure people that, in the unlikely event something goes wrong due to a vaccine they get, the state will provide them support and encourage people to get vaccinated in interests of public health.

But Mr Walker said he doesn't think the scheme is 'fit for purpose', given it took two years for him to receive any money.

January 2020: Oxford University scientists start working on a Covid vaccine after the World Health Organization declares the spread of the virus a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern'

March 2020: Then Prime Minister Boris announced the first national lockdown. That same month, the Government invests 88million in the development of the Oxford vaccine

April 2020: Alongside AstraZeneca, scientists start the first clinical trials of their new vaccine. This involved 1,000 volunteers in the UK

July 2020: Results from phase two trials of AstraZeneca's jab are published

4 December 2020:Covid jab rollout begins with the Pfizer vaccine. Over-80s and care home workers are given priority

8 December 2020:Phase three trial results of theAstraZeneca's jab are published. These are what health officials will use to approve the jab for use in the UK

30 December 2020:AstraZeneca's jab is approved for emergency use

4 January 2021: FirstAstraZeneca doses start being dished out.Brian Pinker, 82, is the first person to receive the jab outside of clinical trials

8 January 2021: Frontline NHS staff start being offered vaccines

8 February 2021: Over-70s are called forward

14 February 2021: Roll-out opens up to Brits with underlying heath conditions, as well as the over-65s

28 February 2021: All over-60s are invited for jabs

11March 2021:European countries start suspending use of the AstraZeneca jab after death of a 60-year-old woman from a blood clot

17 March 2021: Over 50s start being offered Covid jabs in the UK

19 March 2021: Several European countriesreverse decision to suspendAstraZeneca jab after initialinvestigations find no link to reported blood clots

31 March 2021: People living with vulnerable adults are called forward to get a Covid vaccine in the UK, even if they are younger than eligible age groups

7 April 2021:UK restricts the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to over-30s over a small but statistically significant risk of blood clots in younger people

30 April 2021: Over-40s are called forward for Covid jabs

7 May 2021: Restriction of the AstraZeneca vaccine is widened to include over-40s

August 2022: Government sources say they will not order anymore AstraZeneca Covid vaccines instead focuses on mRNA alternatives

March 2023: Dozens of patients and families launch legal action against AstraZeneca due to

April 2023: Widower of a BBC presenter Lisa Shaw who died after having the vaccine said he has 'no alternative' but to sue AstraZeneca

4 August 2023: Anish Tailor, whose wife Alpa died in March 2021 after receiving her first AstraZeneca dose, filed a product liability claim against AstraZeneca at London's High Court.His lawyer says he has nearly 50 other clients who will formally sue AstraZeneca in the coming months

17 August 2023: IT engineer Jamie Scott, who suffered a brain haemorrhage the day after his first AstraZeneca jab starts a legal case against the company. The law firm representing Mr Scott says it represents around 40 other individuals or bereaved families

During that time, he was forced to live off savings, a fact he said compounded the stress he was under during his recovery.

'The stress of it all on top of when you are ill, when you are struggling to live day to day as it is, to then have that heaped on top was horrible,' he said.

He added: 'I've got a friend who, who suffered a broken hip and leg in a in a car accident and in much less time his case and compensation was settled and now he's fully recovered.'

Freedom of information (FOI) requests to NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), the body managing the UK's Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, show 3.7m was paid out to 31 Brits injured or bereaved from AstraZeneca's Covid jab between November 2021 and April 2023.

When Mr Walker received his money in April 2023, 4,178 similar claims had been made to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme but only 63 claimants had been notified they were entitled to any money.

Now, one year on another FOI showsthe scheme has received more than 11,000 Covid vaccine claims as of April 2.

Of these, 168 claims for state-funded financial support have now been approved.

Fewer than five were for fellow Covid jab makersPfizer and Moderna, the remaining claims are all for AstraZeneca.

Successful claims to the scheme not only cover those affected by VITT but also other jab-related side effects such as the nerve condition Guillain-Barre syndrome, anaphylaxis or other blood clot reactions.

Time to resolution isn't the only criticism of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.

Those injured by a vaccine have either be killed or be at least 60 per cent disabled by their injury, as assessed by a medic, to get any money.

Data shows more than 4,800 claims have been rejected by the scheme, including 324 because they failed to meet this 60 per cent threshold.

'Although the claims met the criteria for causation, the independent medical assessor recommended that the vaccine has not caused severe disablement,' the NHSBSA said.

In practice the scheme's rule means people who are assessed as only 59 per cent disabled by a jab don't get a penny, a policy described as cruel by its critics.

Mr Walker argues it shows the scheme is vastly out of date and needs an overhaul.

To make it fairer, he believes there should be a tiered system to help the people who are cut off from getting any compensation.

Another criticism of the current scheme the maximum 120,000 cap.

This means, for example, someone who is completely paralysed by a vaccine would receive the same 120,000 as someone who had lost a leg.

Many alleged victims of the AstraZeneca jab, facing financial ruin from ongoing care costs and being unable to work, have turned to other means for compensation.

Fifty-one families, including Mr Walker, are currently pursuing legal action against AstraZenecaarguing its 'defective' jab was to blame for their injuries and deaths of loved ones.

Some of these people have already received a payment from Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.

Others are in the process of applying for a payment. Some have been told they are ineligible.

Should the action prove successful, compensation could reach seven-figure sums.

Here is the original post:

AstraZeneca Covid vaccine victim: Athletic marathon-running father, 50, left disabled, unable to work and stru - Daily Mail

New Delhi: British-Swedish pharma giant AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, made in collaboration with Oxford University has been found to raise the risk of vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) - a rare but fatal blood clotting disorder - claimed researchers on Thursday. While not new, VITT emerged as a new disease following the adenovirus vector-based Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine - sold as Covishield in India and Vaxzevria in Europe - at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.

"An unusually dangerous blood autoantibody directed against a protein termed platelet factor 4 (or PF4)" was found as the reason for VITT. In separate research in 2023, scientists from Canada, North America, Germany and Italy described a virtually identical disorder with the same PF4 antibody that was fatal in some cases after natural adenovirus (common cold) infection.

Now in a new research, Flinders University in Australia and other international experts found that the PF4 antibodies in both adenovirus infection-associated VITT and classic adenoviral vector VITT share identical molecular fingerprints or signatures. "Indeed, the pathways of lethal antibody production in these disorders must be virtually identical and have similar genetic risk factors, said Professor Tom Gordon from Flinders

The researcher noted that the "findings have the important clinical implication that lessons learned from VITT are applicable to rare cases of blood clotting after adenovirus (a common cold) infections, as well as having implications for vaccine development". The same team had in a 2022 study "cracked the molecular code of the PF4 antibody and identified a genetic risk factor". Their new findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, also have important implications for improving vaccine safety.

The research comes after AstraZeneca "accepted, in a legal document submitted to the High Court in February, that its Covid-19 vaccine 'can, in very rare cases, cause Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Syndrome (TTS)'." TTS is a rare side effect that can cause people to have blood clots and a low blood platelet count. It has been linked to the death of at least 81 people in the UK as well as hundreds of serious injuries. The company has also voluntarily withdrawn "marketing authorisation" of its Covid-19 vaccine from Europe and other global markets.

Read the original:

AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine linked to another rare fatal blood clotting disorder - Onmanorama

A large outbreak of pertussis (more commonly known as whooping cough) has been ongoing in the UK since the beginning of 2024. There have been 2,793 confirmed cases so far this year. Sadly, five infant deaths due to whooping cough have been confirmed, with unconfirmed reports that a sixth infant may have died in the last week of the bacterial infection.

This is a stark reminder that whooping cough is a very nasty infection. While the symptoms are usually mild in healthy older children and adults, it can be lethal for babies. (Also Read | Whooping cough outbreak: Symptoms to watch out for; treatment and prevention tips by experts)

Globally, there are an estimated 24 million cases of whooping cough each year and around 160,000 deaths.

Whooping cough is caused by a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. Pertussis often begins like most other respiratory infections, with typical symptoms including a runny nose and a fever. The distinctive whoop cough may only appear after a week or so of illness though it does not occur in all cases. As such, confirming cases of whooping cough may require a laboratory test.

Whooping cough is very infectious. On average, a single case of pertussis can transmit infection on to around 15-17 other people. This infection rate is similar to measles and higher than the COVID variants.

The reason whooping cough is so infectious is in part due to pertussis having a very long infectious period of up to five weeks where infected people can pass the bacteria on to others. Prompt treatment can greatly reduce transmission antibiotics shown to reduce contagiousness just five days after starting treatment.

But prior to treatment, there are plenty of opportunities for transmission to occur and for an outbreak to be maintained. Both confirmed and asymptomatic cases can be responsible for onward transmission of whooping cough.

One slightly curious aspect of whooping cough is that there are big outbreaks typically every few years. The last sizeable outbreak in the UK was in 2016 with almost 6,000 confirmed cases. The reasons for these cycles are not fully understood, but a key factor is probably waning immunity at the population level.

The immunity from the pertussis vaccine is initially very protective, but it does decline a few years after the initial vaccination. This is why a consistently high vaccine uptake across the population is vital.

The vaccine is very safe and effective. Vaccinating young children and pregnant women some of the most vulnerable groups within the population is particularly crucial for preventing infection and illness.

Children who are fully vaccinated are 84 per cent less likely to get a confirmed whooping cough infection compared to those who werent vaccinated. Vaccines not only prevent young children from becoming unwell vaccines also lower the risk of children transmitting the infection onto young siblings, family members and friends.

Immunisation during pregnancy is also particularly important as the antibodies the mother gets from the vaccine protects the newborn in their first few weeks of life before the baby is themselves old enough to receive their first pertussis vaccine dose. A dose during pregnancy prevents around 78 per cent of pertussis cases in newborn babies.

But vaccine coverage has dropped in recent years. Maternal vaccine uptake was 70 per cent in 2017, but only 58 per cent in 2023.

The percentage of children vaccinated by their first birthday dropped slightly from around 93 per cent just prior to the pandemic to 92 per cent in 2022-2023. A similar drop (from 85 per cent to 83 per cent) is seen with the booster dose children can have prior to their fifth birthday. This drop in coverage may be contributing to the current outbreak.

While one publication has suggested the outbreak is probably a surge fuelled by lockdown, theres no evidence to support this assertion.

This kind of messaging isnt helpful as it doesnt raise awareness or educate the public on the things they can do to prevent the spread of whooping cough. Given that peoples health-related behaviour can be significantly impacted by the news they read, high-profile media sources have a responsibility to report accurate information.

The sheer extent of the pandemic may have affected access to healthcare and vaccination rates, resulting in a drop of the population-wide immunity needed to prevent severe outbreaks. Geographical variations in vaccine uptake might also be a contributing factor though, at the time of writing, there isnt any data available on case numbers by UK region.

To control the current outbreak, widespread use of antibiotics to treat or prevent pertussis infections will probably be used. If anyone suspects they have whooping cough, they should speak to their doctor as soon as possible not only because of the severity of the illness, but because prompt treatment reduces persons infectious period.

While UK guidance does not routinely recommend a pertussis vaccine in adults, an extra dose is known to be safe and effective. This may be advised for people who have come in close contact with someone who has whooping cough. It may also be important for people who could be vulnerable to a severe infection such as the elderly.

Ultimately, whooping cough is an infection that can be prevented by vaccines. The grim news of infant fatalities in the UK reminds us all that there are very good reasons why immunisation is recommended. And, in the longer-term, outbreaks can be minimised in both the number of cases and the severity of cases by maintaining a high vaccine coverage.

Access to vaccination, as well as accurate information about the small risks and significant benefits, is going to be key in bringing the outbreak under control.

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Why is whooping cough surging in the UK? Falling vaccination rates may be the answer - Hindustan Times

Updated May 16, 2024, 11:08 IST

Doctors say AESIs need to be carefully monitored and confirmed by further research studies

A new study has found adolescent females and those with a history of allergy are at a higher risk of adverse events of special interest or AESI after receiving Covaxin India's first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine. According to a report on SpringerLink, an integrated platform for journals and other materials published by Springer, the observational research, conducted by Banaras Hindu University said nearly a third of the participants jabbed with Covaxin has the condition.

The Economic Times reported that of 1,024 individuals enrolled, 635 adolescents and 291 adults could be contacted during the year-long follow-up. According to the study, viral upper respiratory tract infections were reported by at least 47.9 per cent of adolescents and 42.6 per cent of adults.

According to experts, AESI is a defined condition or event that occurs in some people following immunization, with the potential to be causally associated with a vaccine product. AESIs include anaphylaxis, myocarditis, and more recently TTS or thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, characterized by blood clots and low levels of platelets.

Read Full Article

Doctors say AESIs need to be carefully monitored and confirmed by further research studies.

The report said there have been cases of skin and subcutaneous disorders, and nervous system disorders, along with a high percentage of common AESIs in adolescents, including musculoskeletal disorders, menstrual abnormalities, and hypothyroidism in women.

Also, a few serious AESIs included cases of stroke and Guillain-Barre syndrome, identified in 0.3 per cent and 0.1 per cent of participants, respectively. The study said a majority of AESIs in women and adolescents with pre-vaccination COVID-19, those with comorbidities, and those with post-vaccination typhoid had 1.6, 2, 2.7 and 3.2-times higher odds of persistent AESIs, respectively.

According to researchers, there is a need for extended surveillance of those who have been vaccinated with COVID-19 jabs to understand the course and outcomes of late-onset adverse events. "Focused monitoring for persistent AESIs is warranted for individuals with a pre-vaccination history of Covid," researchers said. "Adults with comorbidities, hypertension, are at a higher risk of AESIs and persistent AESIs after BBV152 administration."

Covaxin, developed by Bharat Biotech, is also known as BBV152 and is a type of whole-virus vaccine called an inactivated vaccine. It incorporates a modified or dead version of the virus, in this case, SARS-CoV-2, which cannot replicate and so cannot cause disease.

It is a two-dose vaccine with an efficacy rate of 78 per cent, according to clinical data. Indias drug regulatory authority, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, authorized the vaccine for emergency use on January 3, 2021.

Read more:

COVID-19 Vaccination Effects: Study Finds Adverse Effects In Some Who Took Covaxin - Times Now