The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and the Thrombosis and Haemostasis society of Australia and New Zealand (THANZ) has prepared a joint statement on Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) and the use of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.

Key points

• TTS, also known as vaccine induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), is a rare newly identified condition with a different mechanism to other causes of thrombosis. Among case reports, there are no known markers for increased risk for TTS/VITT.
• The risk of TTS is not likely to be increased in people with the following conditions, and people in these groups can receive COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca:
  • History of blood clots in typical sites
  • Increased clotting tendency that is not immune mediated
  • Family history of blood clots
  • History of ischaemic heart disease or stroke
  • Current or past thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)
  • Those receiving anticoagulation therapy
  • The list of conditions for which Comirnaty (Pfizer) is the preferred vaccine has been expanded to also include:
• Past history of idiopathic splanchnic (mesenteric, portal, splenic) vein thrombosis
• Antiphospholipid syndrome with thrombosis 
• TTS can be treated effectively. Guidance on the identification and management of TTS is available from the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Read the full statement here.

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Tuesday, 1 June 2021