Dad of seven suffers massive stroke hours after Covid vaccine
A father of seven in the US has suffered a stroke just hours after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine now halted across the nation.
Hospitalised Brad Malagarie, 43, is unable to walk or talk, his family, who are convinced the stroke was a result of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, says.
"He's a young, healthy 43-year-old, you know, and I immediately thought it. I said, 'be sure to tell the doctors, tell the doctors he took that Johnson and Johnson vaccine'," his aunt Celeste Foster O’Keefe told CNN.
The one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been put on hold in the US after several incidences of serious blood clots in the brain.
Mr Malagrie, who is from Mississippi, suffered a blood clot in his left-middle cerebral artery.
His wife remains at his side in hospital as the family desperately awaits news of his future.
"He does know who you are, and he just cries when he sees you," Ms Foster O'Keefe said.
Similar side effects have led to restrictions are advise against the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine, Australia's main vaccine.
The federal government earlier this month advised anyone under the age of 50 not to take the vaccine as a precaution, however Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly stressed the vaccine is safe and the benefits far outweigh the risk presented by the extremely rare side-effect.
The Theraputic Goods Administration said on Thursday there has been just two cases out of over 700,000 people who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine.
In the US, six cases, all in women under 50, of blood clots were detected in more than 6.8 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
And while no concrete link to the vaccine has been made, it was revealed this week a NSW woman has died from blood clots a day after receiving a vaccine believed to be the AstraZeneca.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for calm surrounding the rollout, telling reporters there was "a lot more to understand and learn about that issue".
Last week, the federal government secured a further 20 million Pfizer vaccine doses but they will only be available from October at the earliest.
On Wednesday (local time), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory panel decided to delay a vote on the future of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
