B.C. reports 1st case of rare blood-clotting disorder in woman who received AstraZeneca vaccine

B.C. has recordedits first case of a vaccine-induced thrombosis related to the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, arare side effect of what health officials maintain is still a highly effective vaccine.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix made the announcement at a newsconference in the Fraser Health region on Thursday while also announcing 694 new cases of COVID-19 and one additional death, a one-day increase,despite cases generally trending downward over the last few weeks.

Henry said the affected woman, who was in her 40s and in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, is now stable, emphasizing the condition is extremely rare and can be treated. She said the woman noticed her symptoms five or six days after receiving a dose of AstraZeneca and went to her doctor, who, suspectingit mightbe a condition related to the vaccine, conducted a diagnostic blood test that revealed low platelet counts.

Symptoms to the rare side effect include a persistent severe headache, chest or abdominal pain, shortness of breathand swelling or redness in a limb. But Henry emphasized the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe, and has been used to curb major increases in cases in places like the U.K.and Whistler.

Henry said symptoms usually appearfour to 28 days after receiving the vaccine, and are far more common following the first dose than the second dose.

WATCH |B.C.'sprovincial health officer says AstraZeneca is safe and effective

B.C.'s provincial health officer says her friends and family have taken AstraZeneca

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Dr. Bonnie Henry says the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective despite B.C. recording its first case of a vaccine-induced thrombosis.

"We can be confident that those who have received an AstraZeneca vaccine here in B.C., it is an excellent vaccine. Take a deep breath and be assured this is rare and physicians know what to do," she said, adding the chance of a blood clot is around one in 100,000.

"I recognize it can be alarming to hear of this blood clot [...] My family and friends have received the AstraZeneca vaccine as have millions around the world and it is the right thing to do."

Henry said significant doses of Pfizer and Moderna doses are arriving soon, although the AstraZeneca vaccine remains an important part ofB.C.'s vaccine rollout.

Thursday's news conference comesafter the province recorded 572new cases on Wednesday thelowest daily new case countin B.C. since March 20 and no deaths.

Hospitalizations on Thursday are now at457, an 11 per cent drop in one week andthe lowest number since April 20.

The figuresare positive signs as British Columbiacontinuesits battleagainst thethird wave of the novel coronavirus, and, Dix said, the fallingnumbers of patients in hospital is "a huge relief" to health-care workers, though previously cancelled non-urgent surgeriescannot yet be rebooked.

New vaccine clinics coming to hot spot neighbourhoods

In an interview withCBC's On the Coast, Deputy Provincial Health Officer Dr. Reka Gustafson said about 43 per cent of those currently eligible for vaccine have received first doses.

"We're progressing through our immunization very well," she said.

"Infection rates are declining, hospitalizations are declining and critical care admissions have also declined over the last little while."

"Certainly immunization is a really, really big part of it."

Henry said that by end of dayThursday, B.C. would haveadministered its two millionth vaccine dose.Shesaid the province will soon look at reducing the gap between the first and second doses given a rapidly increasing supply of vaccine.

People in B.C. aged 49 and above can now receive a vaccine.

Dix said B.C. will be rapidly dropping the age eligibility for vaccination and encouraged all adults in B.C. to register online.

"We're going to be moving through the age cohorts very quickly, particularly in hot spot areas," said Dix, as he repeatedly urged people to "register, register, register."

Later Thursday, the province said people 40 and above will be invited to receive the vaccine as early as next week. People 46 and above will be invited to receive the vaccine on Friday.

Vancouver Coastal Healthsaid itwill offer targeted vaccinations to people 30 and older who reside in Cedar Cottage,Grandview Woodland,Hastings Sunrise, Kensington, Killarney, Renfrew-Collingwood, Sunset and Victoria Fraserview all considered high transmission neighbourhoods for COVID-19.

The clinic will take place at the KillarneyCommunity Centre fromMay 8 to 14, May 17 to 21 and again from May 25 to 28. Doses will be given by appointment only, with eligible people being asked to register online.

Interior Health said thatall people aged 18 and above living in the Golden local health area will now be invited to book their first dose of vaccine.Vaccinations will take place at the curling rink in Golden, from May 8 to May 16. Residents are also asked to register online.

Grocery workers aged 18 and up are now eligible to register for a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine in the Fraser Health region.

All workers, whether they are unionized or not, will get information from their employers on how to register and book appointments online, as well as an access code.Staff must provide identification and proof of employment, such as a pay stub or work identification, when they arrive for an appointment.

Henry said the province is currently looking at how to rapidly vaccinate a large number of people living in COVID-19 hot- spot areas like Surrey.

Henry confirmed Wednesdaythat teenswill now be partof B.C.'s immunization planafterHealth Canada approvedthe Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for people as young as 12.

Henry said about 300,000people between the ages of 12 and 17in B.C.will now be eligible to receive vaccines, possibly before the end of the school year, although the details are still being worked out.

Currently, anyone18 and older in British Columbia canregister for their vaccinationnow if they have not already done so. This can be doneonlinethrough the "Get Vaccinated" portal, by calling1-833-838-2323, or in person at anyService B.C. location.

The province also announced earlier this week that pregnant British Columbians aged 16 and older are now eligible to book a shot.

Henry said there is currently no plan to introduce a vaccine passport in B.C.

Restrictions remain

To help curtail the spread of COVID-19, the B.C. government has restricted non-essential travel between provincial health regions and those restrictions remain in place until the end of the May 24 long weekend.

Residents cannot book accommodations or camping sites outside their zone andBC Ferries has stopped accepting bookings for recreational vehicles such as campers and trailers.

A list of travel reasons that are considered essential is available on the government's website.

Police are setting uproadblocks at access points to health regions and people who disobey the current travelordercan be fined.

To hear Dr. Reka Gustafson's interview on CBC's On the Coast, click here: