The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced in a statement last night that a 62-year-old local man who received his second Sinopharm inactivated jab in late March has been diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).
According to Wikipedia, immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a type of thrombocytopenic purpura (purpura associated with a reduction in circulating blood platelets) defined as an isolated low platelet count with normal bone marrow in the absence of other causes of low platelets. It causes a characteristic red or purple bruise-like rash and an increased tendency to bleed.
Purpura is the appearance of red or purple discolorations on the skin that do not blanch when pressure is applied, caused by sub dermal bleeding.
A platelet is a small colourless disc-shaped particle found in the blood of mammals, which plays an important role in the formation of blood clots.
According to the statement, the man received his first jab on February 23 and his second jab on March 25 at a public health centre. On April 21, the man came down with bleeding from the oral mucosa and with systemic petechiae, because of which he went to the mainland to seek medical treatment.
Petechiae are small spots caused by bleeding underneath the skin.
The man returned to Macau on April 30 and went to the emergency department of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre for medical treatment. After an examination, the doctor confirmed that the man suffered a reduction in platelets, and therefore he was diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), the statement said.
The statement said that the man, who has been hospitalised, is in a stable condition. He only has mild symptoms, and is not suffering from blood clots.
The statement underlined that immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a common blood disease, and in most of the time it occurs for unknown reasons.
The statement also underlined that currently there is no evidence indicating that the disease is related to any kind of COVID-19 vaccination. However, the statement said that after confirming that the man has been inoculated against COVID-19, the public hospital has decided to classify the case as a minor post-vaccination adverse event in order to study the possible relationship between the man’s symptoms and COVID-19 vaccinations. Consequently, the statement said, the case has also been transferred to the Health Bureau’s (SSM) special working group tasked with assessing serious adverse events after COVID-19 vaccinations.
The statement underlined that the Health Bureau has set up a special working group to assess serious adverse events after COVID-19 vaccinations, which is composed of representatives from various medical fields. In case a serious adverse event following a COVID-19 vaccination is reported, the working group will assess the case and verify whether there is a causal relationship between the vaccination and the adverse event, the statement said.
This file photo shows a nurse administering a COVID-19 jab to a woman at a public health centre in late February. Photo: GCS
