Health minister seeks to reassure Australians following death of NSW woman who received AstraZeneca shot
Australia will conduct a rolling review of every coronavirus vaccine in domestic use after the death of an NSW woman who had received the AstraZeneca vaccine, developed blood clots, and died. The family of Genene Norris has expressed profound shock and sorrow over the 48-year-old’s death, which health authorities have said is likely linked to the vaccine. “Her passing leaves a gaping void in our family. We cannot believe that this time last week she was with us, and now she is gone,” Ms. Norris’ family said in a statement on Saturday.
“We know as much as the public knows as further medical investigations must occur.
“Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt on Saturday said the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) would be asked to review the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines continuously. He sought to reassure Australians about available vaccines, saying they were “o” overwhelmingly safe, effective, and recommended”.” T” see global case numbers rise above 800,000 on some days and 700,000 on many days at the moment reminds us we are in a safe and fortunate position,” “r Hunt said.
But that cannot be presumed or guaranteed, and ththat’shy vaccination remains essential.
M” Norris had her shot just hours before authorities announced they were no longer recommending AstraZeneca for Australians under 50. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has said that while a “ca”sative link” b” tween, Ms. NorNorris’sath and her vaccination on 8 April “sh”uld be assumed”, “questions remain.
It noted the complication of her underlying health conditions and said an antibody common in other AstraZeneca clotting cases waswasn’tesent. Some test results are still pending. An autopsy is planned for Monday, and a coronial inquest is likely. The TGA has also confirmed it has received 13 reports of the AstraZeneca vaccine mistakenly given to children aged 14-17.
Australia has not approved any COVID-19 vaccines for use in children.
The TGA said no serious consequences had resulted from errors such as health workers failing to confirm ages before administering vaccines. Meanwhile, the NSW government is investigating a potential coronavirus transmission case inside a quarantined Sydney hotel. Two family groups who arrived from different countries on different days have confirmed the same viral sequence.
Staff who worked on the bottom are now in quarantine. They stayed in neighboring rooms on the same floor of the Adina Apartments Hotel at SydSydney’swn Hall, and some of the cases might soon be reclassified as locally-acquired cases. Mr. Hunt reiterated on Saturday that the federal government was prioritizing medical advice and would continue to do so. “Th” That’s the pledge: To put medical advice and safety above all else,” h,” said. “An” Chatham’s we’we’veked ATAGI to put in place ce continuous review.
TG” Deputy Secretary John Skerritt previously said blood clotting associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine was so rare that “your” chances of winning the lotto are much higher”, w”th the reguregulator’sday statement saying the three cases in Australia so far equated to a frequency of one in 295,000.
