Scientists have discovered a way to potentially prevent a rare side effect associated with certain vaccines, thanks to a new understanding of how they function.

“We’ve identified the missing link explaining how a typical immune response can occasionally become detrimental,” explained Dr. Jing Jing Wang of Flinders University.

Dr. Wang noted, “By altering or eliminating this specific adenovirus protein, future vaccines could sidestep this exceedingly rare adverse reaction while still offering robust protection against diseases.”

Symptoms related to thrombosis, such as severe headaches, blurred vision, or shortness of breath, have been observed to emerge between four and 42 days following the initial vaccine dose.

The increased risk is particularly notable among younger individuals, who may experience a heightened antibody response leading to severe blood clotting.

Despite these risks, many individuals under 60 received at least one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine due to the limited availability of the Pfizer vaccine, as efforts intensified to meet vaccination targets and ease lockdown measures during the pandemic.

The AstraZeneca vaccine hasn’t been available in Australia since 2023.

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