Ellie Peacock received her vaccine dose on March 31, roughly a week before the TGA updated its advice recommending under-50s do not get the AstraZeneca vaccine administered, due to blood clotting concerns.
The TGA confirmed the link on Thursday, stating that the case was consistent with confirmed thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).
The TGA said that Ms Peacock was remaining under investigation regarding the condition, with ongoing clinical investigations, including considering other medical conditions.
According to the TGA, the rates of clotting in Australia are consistent with those elsewhere.
With 2.1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine administered in Australia so far, there are currently 24 people with reported cases of TTS in the country – 21 confirmed and three considered probable.
According to the information available, the most common onset of clot symptoms was 14 days, however, there is a range of 2-44 days following vaccination.
According to Ms Peacock, she went to the hospital with pains in her calf, suspecting a blood clot. However, after an ultrasound did not show evidence of a clot, she was sent home with painkillers.
Returning to hospital several times over the next few months reporting pain in different parts of her body, she was eventually admitted with pneumonia in early May. After being discharged, she was soon readmitted with low blood oxygen levels, where she was X-rayed, revealing blood clots in her lungs.
Ms Peacock wrote on her social media that she was recovering well, but the ordeal had left her shaken.
In a statement, the TGA said it would not comment on Ms Peacock’s individual case, however, it was not changing its advice on the AstraZeneca vaccine at this time.
“The TGA is monitoring the numbers of cases of blood clot disorders … being reported in association with both COVID-19 vaccines currently in use in Australia and comparing them against the number of expected events in the population in the absence of vaccination,” the TGA said in a statement.
“The overall number of reports received is no higher than the expected background rate for the more common type of blood clots in Australia, which occur in around 50 Australians every day, irrespective of their vaccination status.”
