Stroke Association response to BMJ study: Risk of thrombocytopenia and thromboembolism after covid-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 positive testing: self-controlled case series study

Dr Richard Francis, Head of Research at the Stroke Association, said:

“We have known since early in the pandemic that being infected by the COVID-19 virus has led to strokes in some people and it became apparent during the vaccination rollout that the AstraZeneca vaccine slightly increased the risk of an incredibly rare type of stroke. Our charity has supported stroke survivors throughout the pandemic, no matter what their cause of stroke.

“This new study tells us about the risk of cardiovascular events that could affect the brain in people after the vaccine, or with the virus, in comparison to those that have had neither. It shows that your risk of having a stroke due to catching COVID-19 before vaccination is much greater than your risk of stroke from having the vaccine.

"The risk of all types of stroke for all groups of people is lower after taking the vaccine; this means that the benefits of the vaccine for stroke risk alone, is greater than the risk. Knowing that the vaccine could save you from the deadly or severely disabling effects of stroke, as well as protect you from getting a nasty bout of COVID-19 should be enough to persuade anyone to get vaccinated.”