This map shows the rate of COVID-19 infections up to May 11. Image is from the World Health Organization weekly epidemiological report.
A man in his 40s from Fraser Health is B.C.’s second case of a vaccine-induced blood clotting disorder after vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine. He’s in stable condition, receiving treatment, said Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer.
“This is a rare, but very serious condition,” Dr. Henry said. “Recognizing the symptoms and getting treatment early is important.”
A man named Shaun Mulldoon posted on Facebook that he had stomach pains 10 days after his AstraZeneca vaccine and called his doctor twice before going to the hospital where he had more than six feet of his small intestine removed due to a massive blood clot. He had to have a second surgery two days later. Presumably this is the same man mentioned by Dr. Henry.
Symptoms to look out for include persistent, severe headaches, shortness of breath, chest pain, abdominal pain and swelling and redness in a limb. Call 811 if you feel unwell in the four to 28 days after any of the COVID-19 shots, Dr. Henry urges.
“In some people this vaccine seems to stimulate an immune response that develops antibodies against our platelets, so this causes a type of clotting that is different from other types of blood clots. It is a very challenging one to treat, but there is a test for it and there is treatment.”
Last week, B.C. announced another case of this disorder — a woman in her 40s.
More than half of all adults in B.C. have now received one of the three vaccines and more than 100,000 people have received their second vaccine.
Many high-profile people received the AstraZeneca vaccine, including B.C. Premier John Horgan and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. But after several reports of blood clots as well as a shortage of supply, many provinces, including B.C. have announced they will no longer be giving that vaccine for any first doses. But what are people to do if they got the AstraZeneca vaccine as a first dose?
Dr. Henry has said she is closely watching studies in Britain to make sure it’s safe to mix-and-match vaccines and that it is effective. One of those studies has reported this week that mixing COVID-19 vaccines leads to more side effects, the Guardian reports. Data on efficacy is expected soon.
Meanwhile, Dr. Henry reported that since December, 1,340 people have tested positive for COVID-19 who have had at least one dose of vaccine, at least three weeks prior to testing positive. Of those, 141 have been hospitalized, 13 have ended up in ICU and 30 have died. There were 120 COVID-19 cases in people who had received two doses. Of the 30 deaths, 26 people had had one dose and four people were fully vaccinated, Dr. Henry said.
After two weeks, there is good protection from COVID-19, but it’s better after three weeks, Dr. Henry said.
These figures confirm that the vaccines are good, but they're not foolproof in preventing COVID-19. Infections among vaccinated people are generally milder compared to unvaccinated people, Dr. Henry says.
She’s also optimistic that restrictions will be slowly lifted after the May long weekend, but she says it won’t be like flicking a switch.
Here’s what else happened this week:
- British Columbia introduced legislation giving all employees three days of paid sick leave. Employers will pay the employee and be reimbursed by the government through WorkSafeBC.
- After a data leak two weeks ago, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control released neighbourhood-level data about COVID-19 cases. Look for your neighbourhood here.
- Women have been reporting changes to their periods after having COVID-19 or getting vaccinated against it. Dr. Jerilynn Prior, a Vancouver-based doctor, says there are many reasons this could be happening, including stress, but that the changes are all reversible.
- A deadly black fungus has been reported in COVID-19 patients in India, the BBC reports.
- People in Britain are allowed to hug again, thanks to a sharp drop in COVID-19 cases after many people got vaccinated, the CBC reports. Dr. Henry says B.C. might reach this phase by the fall.
- The worst of the COVID-19 pandemic could have been avoided, if the world had acted one month earlier, Telegraph reports. The story is based on a report from the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
- The virus continues to rage unabated in India, with more than 4,000 deaths for two straight days, the Globe and Mail reports.
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control said people who are fully vaccinated can ditch their masks outside and in most indoor spaces, the Globe and Mail reports.
- The World Health Organization designated the variant first identified in India (B.1617) as a variant of concern, saying it is more transmissible and may be slightly less susceptible to antibodies.
Next week, we will be one week closer to a potential reopening. Let’s hope everything remains on the right path.
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