<p><strong>On behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health, please find below statements published regarding a specific clotting condition being reported after COVID-19 vaccination:</strong></p>
<h4>Acting Chief Medical Officer and Head of the TGA</h4>
<p><a href="https://health.gov.au/news/joint-statement-on-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joint statement</a> from acting Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Michael Kidd and Head of the Therapeutic Goods Administration Adj. Professor John Skerritt.<br /> </p>
<h4>ATAGI statement for health providers</h4>
<p>The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/news/atagi-statement-healthcare-providers-specific-clotting-condition-reported-after-covid-19-vaccination">released a statement</a> to support health professionals in responding to any instances of clotting disorders following vaccine administration. This provides more information on clinical management and raises awareness of the potential for this condition.</p><h4>Summary of current recommendations</h4>
<ul><li>Rare cases of thrombosis associated with thrombocytopenia were reported following administration of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca overseas.</li><li>The onset of reported cases was between 4 to 20 days after vaccination.</li><li>Providers should be aware of warning signs of a severe condition associated with thrombosis and thrombocytopenia. This has presented as either central venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) or thrombosis in other sites, such as intra-abdominal venous systems. CVST may present as a new onset persistent headache not settling with analgesia, features of raised intracranial pressure (including acute severe headache, vomiting, confusion), focal neurological deficits, and/or seizures.</li><li>If CVST or another severe thrombotic complication with thrombocytopenia is suspected in a patient who has received COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, refer them to an emergency department for further assessment and haematology consultation.</li><li>Clinical investigations should include a full blood count (to look for thrombocytopenia), a D-dimer test and radiological imaging.</li><li>Patients suspected to have this condition should NOT receive any heparin or platelet transfusions.</li><li>The TGA has received one report of a case of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia following COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca in Australia. The clinical details of this case are currently under review by the TGA.</li></ul>
<h4>ATAGI statement for consumers</h4>
<p><a href="https://www.health.gov.au/news/atagi-statement-consumers-specific-clotting-condition-after-covid-19-vaccination" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A statement</a> from ATAGI for consumers on a specific clotting condition being reported after COVID-19 vaccination.<br /> </p>
<h4>Additional statement from ATAGI statement</h4>
<p>An <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/news/atagi-statement-covid-19-vaccination-reported-case-of-thrombosis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ATAGI statement</a> on COVID-19 vaccination and a reported case of thrombosis.<br /> </p>
<h4>TGA statement</h4>
<p>The <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/media-release/specific-clotting-condition-reported-after-covid-19-vaccination" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TGA's assessment</a> is that the benefits of vaccination against COVID-19 continue to outweigh any risks. <br /> </p>
<h4>Useful documents</h4>
<p><strong>The Australian Government Department of Health revised the four documents below on 4 April 2021, with updates from ATAGI regarding a specific clotting condition:</strong></p>
<ul><li><a href="https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-atagi-immunisation-provider-guide-to-obtaining-informed-consent-for-covid-19-vaccine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Provider guide for obtaining informed consent</a></li><li><a href="https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-consent-form-for-covid-19-vaccination" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Consent form for COVID-19 vaccination</a></li><li><a href="https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-information-on-covid-19-astrazeneca-vaccine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Consumer information on the AstraZeneca vaccine</a></li><li><a href="https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-after-your-astrazeneca-vaccine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Information for after your AstraZeneca vaccine</a></li></ul>