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According to a New York Times report, at least 36 people may have developed a rare blood disease, known as immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), after taking the Pfizer and BioNTech or Moderna vaccines against COVID-19.
The disease develops when the immune system attacks platelets, a blood component essential for clotting, or the cells that create them, for unknown reasons.
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The cases were reported to VAERS, the government’s vaccine adverse event reporting system, at the end of January. However, the system relies on individuals to submit reports of their experiences to the CDC and the FDA, and does not indicate whether the vaccines actually caused the problems.
More than 43 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the United States, with more than 32 million Americans receiving at least one dose, according to the latest data Tuesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No cases of thrombocytopenia have been reported in trials with Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.
A spokesperson for Pfizer told FOX News he is “aware of cases of thrombocytopenia in recipients of our COVID-19 vaccine” and takes adverse event reports “very seriously.”
“We are collecting relevant information to share with the FDA. However, at this time, we have not been able to establish a causal association with our vaccine,” the spokesperson added. “To date, millions of people have been vaccinated and we are closely monitoring all adverse events in people receiving our vaccine. Serious adverse events, including deaths unrelated to the vaccine, are unfortunately likely to occur at a similar rate in the general population. “
Pfizer noted that the 36 reports do not necessarily mean that 36 separate and individual patients had thrombocytopenia after receiving the vaccine, citing the possibility of duplicates submitted to the VAERS system.
Representatives for Moderna, the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC did not immediately return FOX News’ requests for comment.
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One of those affected by the disease was Dr Gregory Smith, a 56-year-old obstetrician from Miami Beach whose symptoms appeared three days after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 18.
Smith’s wife Heidi Neckelmann revealed in a Facebook post that he entered the emergency room with a platelet count of zero and was immediately admitted to the intensive care unit with a diagnosis of “acute ITP caused by reaction to COVID vaccine.” “
Immune thrombocytopenia is usually treated with platelet transfusions, along with steroids and immunoglobulins – treatment to prevent the spleen from destroying the platelets. However, Neckelmann said the treatments failed to restore Smith’s platelet levels and, after two weeks in hospital, he died of a brain hemorrhage.
“He was a very healthy 56-year-old man loved by everyone in the community, who delivered hundreds of healthy babies and worked tirelessly during the pandemic,” Neckelman added. “He was an advocate for vaccines, which is why he has it himself. I think people should be aware that side effects can occur. [sic], that it’s not good for everyone and in this case destroys a good life, a perfect family, and has affected so many people in the community. Don’t let his death be in vain please save more lives by making this news news. “
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Meanwhile, The Times reported that Luz Legaspi, 72, was hospitalized in New York City on January 19 after waking up with bruises on her arms and legs and bleeding blisters in her mouth, just a day after. have received their first dose of Moderna. Vaccine against covid19.
At the time, Legaspi’s platelet count was zero and doctors reportedly ordered him not to get out of bed for more than a week, fearing that a lump, bruise, fall or other minor injury could. cause similar bleeding and be fatal.
Legaspi would have received the platelet treatments, but showed no signs of improvement after 10 days in hospital.
“I don’t think she understands that she’s like a time bomb,” Legaspi’s daughter, who did not reveal her name at her employer’s request, told The Times on her mother’s ninth day. to the hospital. “I don’t use the term. I don’t want to tell him that.”
However, Dr James Bussel, a pediatrician and expert in immune thrombocytopenia, reportedly heard of her condition and called Legaspi’s doctor on January 28 to offer to consult her about her care.
Within two days, Legaspi’s platelet count was over 70,000 and she was able to return home the next day, February 2.
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Bussel and his colleague Dr Eun-Ju Lee recently studied 15 cases of thrombocytopenia that developed after people were given COVID-19 vaccines.
The article, which has been submitted to a medical journal and is currently being reviewed for publication, provides information on treatments and urges doctors to report cases, according to the Times. In addition, the study notes that it is too early to say whether affected patients will have lasting recoveries or recurrences of the platelet problem.
Bussel told The Times that it is “possible that there is an association” between the disease and the vaccines, but the link is not exactly clear.
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A 2010 study published in the American Journal of Hematology found that 3.3 per 100,000 adults are diagnosed with ITP per year. The prevalence of ITP in adults is approximately 9.5 cases per 100,000.
According to the Platelet Disorder Support Association, approximately 50,000 people in the United States are currently living with and managing ITP successfully, and most cases are persistent (lasting six to 12 months) or chronic (lasting over a year). Immune thrombocytopenia sometimes follows a viral illness, such as COVID-19.
American Society of Hematology health experts, including Dr Bussel, recommend that ITP patients consult their hematologists before being inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines.
More than 27 million Americans have been infected and more than 467,000 Americans have been killed by COVID-19 since the pandemic began in March, according to Johns Hopkins University.
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