Surge of patients hit A&Es over Oxford jab clot fears

Emergency clinicians have raised concerns and called for central guidance for dealing with a rush of unnecessary A&E attendances triggered by health anxiety over the Oxford covid vaccine’s safety.

HSJ has heard from numerous emergency clinicians who reported an increasing number of attendances from people with very mild symptoms, such as headaches, but who were concerned they might be having a potentially serious reaction to the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab.

The reports have come from London, the Midlands, the South, the North West and the East of England. Some expressed concerns about the impact of increased attendances on already busy accident and emergency departments.

Senior staff said patients were self-presenting at A&E and at their GPs. HSJ has also been told some emergency departments have been alarmed by the number of patients presenting with mild symptoms who said they were told to go to A&E by their GPs.

The concerns follow the announcement by government and regulators earlier this week that under-30s should be offered different covid vaccines where they are available, because of uncertain evidence of a very small risk of serious blood clotting linked to the Oxford/Az jab.

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Source: HSJ, 9 April 2021