There is a possible link between heart muscle inflammation and the Pfizer vaccine, the national drug regulator has announced.The Therapeutic Goods Administration’s latest report also shows five new cases of blood clots are possibly linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Three are confirmed and two are “probable” cases of blood clots – low blood platelets assessed as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).
Four of the new cases have been recorded in NSW and one in Victoria.
The TGA is also monitoring reports of suspected heart conditions myocarditis and pericarditis possibly linked to Pfizer, and Guillain-Barre syndrome, where the immune system attacks the nerves, linked to AstraZeneca.
The latest clots come after Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommended Pfizer as the preferred vaccine in people aged 16 to 60.
Previously ATAGI recommended Pfizer for those aged 16 to 50 and AstraZeneca for people aged over 50.
The latest data shows emerging evidence in Australia of a higher risk and severity of TTS with the first AstraZeneca dose in the 50-to-59 age group, the TGA report said.
“One previously reported case from South Australia was reclassified from confirmed to probable following revised clinical information being provided to the TGA,” the report stated.