Almost 1000 Victorians rushed to a single Melbourne hospital over three months last year incorrectly fearing they were experiencing rare life-threatening reactions to coronavirus vaccines. COVID19Vic
“We observed a significant increase in vaccine-related presentations to the emergency department, which added to an already challenging workload and imposed extra burdens on severely constrained health services.”Due to the need to closely monitor for rare vaccine-linked complications, hundreds of patients required full blood count tests and heart monitoring including electrocardiograms , while more than 50 others required advanced imaging including CT brain and chest scans.
Chest pain and palpitations were seen mainly in patients following Pfizer vaccinations, while headache was a common presentation after an AstraZeneca vaccination.University of Sydney professor and vaccine expert Julie Leask argued there was a “good news story” in the report, in that people were monitoring their symptoms and seeking help early as they were urged to in the public health messaging, particularly around the AstraZeneca vaccine amid its links to a rare blood-clotting syndrome.
A small increased risk of myocarditis or pericarditis – rare types of heart inflammation – was later linked to the Pfizer vaccine, sparking further reporting on vaccine safety. They argued national guidelines were urgently needed detailing when to seek emergency help for common side effects associated with the vaccines, including headaches and heart palpitations.
The surge in emergency department presentations during mass vaccinations was not unique to COVID-19. A 2017 study found a threefold increase in paediatric emergency department presentations in Britain after the introduction of a meningococcal B vaccine, leading to unnecessary invasive investigations and the administration of IV antibiotics.
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