by Curlan Campbell
- Only 14,804 first doses of AstraZeneca vaccine administered as at 14 May
- Expiry date of 27 June for the last batch of AstraZeneca is fast approaching
- Every year at least 50 people are admitted to the General Hospital for blood clot complications
AstraZeneca blood clotting fears continue to be blown out of proportion says Grenada’s Acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Epidemiologist Dr Shawn Charles. This reality has certainly affected the country’s vaccination rate with just only 14,804 first doses and 6,614 second doses of AstraZeneca vaccine administered as at 14 May.
According to experts, the absolute risk of death by clotting after taking the AstraZeneca vaccine is about one in a million. The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) states just over 10 people develop a rare blood clot condition for every million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine given. This is seen more often in younger people and tends to occur between 4 days and 4 weeks following vaccination.
But despite their findings, Dr Charles while any reported causes of blood clot are cause for concern, he believes the fear of blood clotting as a result of the vaccine has created mass hysteria leading to the island falling behind the other Caribbean islands.
“In very rare instances a particular blood clot was seen, one case in 250,000 people following vaccination and of course it is cause for concern, but it has not been directly linked to the vaccine, but it was seen following vaccination and so it is one of those things we have to look at but it does not mean that the vaccine is unsafe,” Dr Charles said.
In delivering his presentation this morning to major tourism stakeholders, Dr Charles provided the statistics that help show that hospital admittance as a result of blood clots have been prevalent in Grenada prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. He stated that every year at least 50 people are admitted to the General Hospital for blood clot complications. In 2016, he said there were 56 admissions and in 2017, 53 patients were admitted for blood clots. Every year he said over 25 are admitted for blood clots in the lungs. In 2016 there were 30 such cases and in 2017 26 cases were recorded. Based on those statistics he said it is unfair to lay the blame solely on the AstraZeneca vaccine which is Grenada’s only hope to return to a sense of normalcy.
“If [people] are still on the fence, if you wait then that decision will be made for you to your detriment because that day may come when you come to the realisation that I really need this vaccine and that day might be too late because it may not be available. It is extremely difficult to get our hands on vaccines right now,” Dr Charles said.
Dr Charles also brought home the need for the general public to utilise the opportunity to be vaccinated while there is still time since the expiry date of 27 June, for the last batch of AstraZeneca is fast approaching. “Unfortunately, we live very far away from the manufacturing sites so it takes around 3 months between packaging and shipping before it lands here so when it lands in Grenada, we have about 3 months to use them and that date for us is the 27th of June… and we do not have a date when we will get more,” he said.
The call for Grenadians to get vaccinated comes days after the release of the Ministry’s weekly Epidemiology report, which saw that in week 16 of this year, there were 26 Acute Respiratory Infection cases. In week 17, there were 46 cases, and that number jumped to 133 in week 18. Dr Charles appeals to citizens to get vaccinated and to follow the public health protocols.
Dr Charles appeals to citizens to get vaccinated and to also follow the public health protocols.
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I believe articles like this do not help people to make a decision. The blood clotting issue has been linked directly to the vaccine. It does not help to tell us that people had blood clotting issues before, that is obvious. What is helpful is educating the population on what to do if they do get a blood clot, how to advocate for themselves at the hospitals and tell doctors and nurses what to look for so that people are treated correctly instead of ignored. People are scared to take the vaccine because the administration hasn’t used education as a tactic…instead it is about fear of infection and the big stick policy. None of these are helpful.
No they are NOT Gene therapy. Received Pfizer vaccine 4 days ago . As a person at HIGH RISK of anaphylaxis I Received my shot at the hospital for safety and was and have been monitored. I came through fine only minor things like arm sore for two days, bit of headache, slight feeling of nausea easily taken care of with ginger lozenges. Feeling normal now. Getting second shot with same protocol and no worries.
Yes, that’s why Canada, along with other nations have discontinued the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine…..just believe big pharma, and take the vax…
Blow out of proportion they say..,,
These are not vaccines people but gene therapy. The main stream media in conjunction with governments all over the world are hiding the tru figures of deaths and serious injuries after application of the Gene Therapy injections.
Educate yourselves people. Do your own research.
Its not just Adenovirus Experimental Vaccines such as Astrazeneca and J and J, but rather ALL the Experimental MNRA Vaccines that likewise spread Spike Proteinns throughout the Human body is a potential risk of Thrombosis and Aggressive Patogen Cytokine Storms.
These are not Traditional Vaccines.
The only traditional Vaccine currently avaiable an actually made from deactivated SarsCov2 is from China Sinovacs.
So far Globally, in first four months of these Experimental Vaccines rollout, Adverse Vaccine Reactions some resulting in deaths are at record levels. Levels that would take more than ten years have been reached in four minths, many resulting in injury and deaths. Humans are being used as Guinea Pigs until 2023 when they can start to analyse the Global Trial Data.
By no logical metric can these Experimental Genetics Vaccines be called safe.
Dr. Charles perhaps you should look tonyour peers in other countries. YES the blood clots HAVE been tied to both AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The rate is now at 1 in 60,000. Canada and other countries are NO LONGER giving AstraZeneca as FIRST shots. Educate yourself please.
Today I went to Real Value and to CK’s. In both places there were staff and customers with the mask down under their noses. This is not the first time I am seeing this. These supermarkets need to be more vigilant in ensuring that their staff and customers wear the mask properly.
I am going to start taking photos of people not wearing the mask properly and posting it on FaceBook.
Only 2 kinda for people afraid of death , a coward and the wicked which one are you
You need to ask yourself the question..
People like you make me sick! Grow up and educate yourself and stop being self righteous. I suggest you also stop glueing your eyes to the tv watching main stream media otherwise you’ll miss out on key information.
I have good news and bad news. 2 separate studies, one by the CDC and one in Denmark, showed that masks are basically useless against this virus, (not to mention spike proteins spread around by every vaccinated person) and yet you’re still alive. That’s the good news. The bad news is that government tyrants around the world and gullible Covidian cult followers are going to force everyone to keep wearing them. Follow the money.