Strokes: Females

(asked on 6th December 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of cerebral haemorrhageĀ in UK women (1) below 60, and (2) 60 and above, and their link to the (a) Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccination, and (b) Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination.


Answered by
Lord Kamall Portrait
Lord Kamall
This question was answered on 16th December 2021

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has monitored suspected reports of cerebral haemorrhage and thrombosis following COVID-19 vaccination. No direct association between reports of cerebral haemorrhage and the AstraZeneca or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines has been identified in women or men aged either above or below 60 years old. However, a review of reports of specific types of blood clot in cerebral veins, occurring with low platelets concluded that a link with AstraZeneca vaccine is likely. Cerebral hemorrhage may occur because of these events. No link has been identified with the Pfizer vaccine.

There is some evidence that the reported incidence rate of these blood clots is slightly higher in females compared to men, although this is not seen across all age groups. A higher reported incidence rate is seen in younger adult age groups following the first dose compared to the older groups at 21.1 per million doses in those aged 18 to 49 years old and 11.0 per million doses in those aged 50 years old and over. There does not appear to be an increased risk following the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The advice remains that the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the risks for the majority of people.

Reticulating Splines