Vaccini AstraZeneca, note from the Department of School Directors

The Region has sent a note to school administrators for staff who will receive the AstraZeneca vaccine in the coming days. The note signed by the manager of the regional health department, Mario La Rocca, starts from a document drawn up by the EMA (the European Medicines Agency) about the “danger of developing thrombocytopenia (low platelet value in the blood, ed) and coagulation disorders “after the administration of the vaccine developed by Oxford University.

So far (as of March 31, 2021), the school staff vaccinated in Sicily, who receive the drug in question as a priority, slightly exceeds 69 thousand units, equal to 49% of the total. Those who after vaccination, explained by the councilor, accuse skin bruises (petechiae), shortness of breath, headache, blurred vision, chest pain and other symptoms listed in the note, must immediately alert the family doctor to watch out for any “signs and symptoms of thromboembolism and thrombocytopenia “.

“A combination of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia – reads the council’s note – in some cases accompanied by bleeding, has been observed very rarely after vaccination” with AstraZeneca. On the island, teachers, school collaborators and secretarial staff awaiting vaccination still amount to about 70 thousand units. And, as has been the case since last February 19, those who want to be vaccinated will receive AstraZeneca.