The Therapeutic Goods Administration has confirmed the death of a 61-year-old woman at a Perth hospital last month was likely linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine.
She received the vaccine in early June and was admitted to hospital later that month.
An external vaccine safety investigation group of experts determined the vaccination was the likely cause due to a lack of evidence for other causes and the time frame of her getting the jab.
While the woman had experienced a recent viral illness that could have theoretically caused immune thrombocytopenia, the panel felt that the unusual severity of the event suggested that vaccination was a more likely cause, they said.
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The woman received the vaccine in early June. NCA NewsWire / Dean Martin Credit: News Corp Australia
ITP is a rare bleeding disorder that occurs when the immune system mistakenly destroys platelets, which help blood to clot.
The link between ITP and the vaccine is still under investigation, but research suggests the risk is about one case per 100,000 AstraZeneca doses.
As of July 4, the TGA has received 36 reports of suspected ITP.
The TGA continues to investigate this issue and we will report more information when it is known, they said.
About five million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered in Australia.
The death of woman – who had recently suffered an illness – in a Perth hospital was likely linked to the AstraZeneca jab, it has been found.
