South Korean Preprint Study Five Months Ago Warns That COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Can Cause A Variety Of Blood Disorders Including Aplastic Anemia!

COVID-19 News: The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a rapid development and deployment of vaccines globally. Among these, mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer/BioNTech's BNT162b2 and Moderna's mRNA-1273 emerged as pivotal tools in combating the SARS-CoV-2 virus. While vaccines have been claimed to be highly effective in preventing severe COVID-19 outcomes, concerns have been raised regarding potential adverse effects, including hematologic abnormalities.


COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Can Cause A Variety
Of Blood Disorders Including Aplastic Anemia

A preprint study that is covered in this COVID-19 News report, conducted in South Korea sheds light on this issue, focusing on hematologic events post-COVID-19 vaccination. The study, involving several prominent medical institutions such as Kyung Hee University Hospital, Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, Mokdong Hospital, and Ajou University School of Medicine, aimed to investigate the development of hematologic abnormalities following COVID-19 vaccination.
 
Understanding the Study Methodology
The study utilized retrospective cohort analyses based on data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS) database spanning from July 2022 to August 2023. The cohort included individuals aged 20 years and above, comprising both vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups, totaling 4,203,887 participants.
 
Hematologic abnormalities under scrutiny included nutritional anemia, hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, coagulation defects, and neutropenia, identified through International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes. The incidence rates of these abnormalities were compared between the vaccinated and non-vaccinated cohorts.
 
Demographics and Vaccination History
The demographics of the study participants revealed a vaccination rate of 85.5%, with a slightly higher proportion of women vaccinated compared to men. Age-wise, individuals in their 50s, 60s, and 70s exhibited higher vaccination rates, while those in their 20s and 30s showed lower rates.

Regarding vaccination history, approximately 58% received mRNA vaccines, while 42% received viral vector vaccines. Notably, cross-vaccination was observed in a small percentage of individuals. The interval between vaccinations averaged around 50.79 days.
 
Incidence Rates of Hematologic Abnormalities
-Nutritional Anemia
The study noted significantly higher incidence rates of nutritional anemia in the vaccinated group compared to the non-vaccinated group at various intervals post-vaccination. Logistic regression analyses revealed an increased risk of nutritional anemia associated with COVID-19 vaccination, particularly with mRNA vaccines.
 
-Hemolytic Anemia
Contrary to expectations, the incidence of hemolytic anemia was lower in the vaccinated cohort, regardless of vaccine type. Age and a history of COVID-19 infection w ere identified as risk factors for hemolytic anemia.
 
-Aplastic Anemia
Incidence rates of aplastic anemia were notably higher in the vaccinated group, with mRNA vaccines showing a significantly increased risk compared to viral vector vaccines. Factors such as age, gender, and comorbidity burden further contributed to the risk of aplastic anemia.
 
-Coagulation Defects
Coagulation defects were more prevalent post-vaccination, with both mRNA and viral vector vaccines contributing to increased risk. Notably, older age and certain comorbidities were associated with a higher risk of coagulation defects.
 
-Neutropenia
Although neutropenia incidence rates were low, certain demographic and health factors such as gender and comorbidity status influenced the risk of neutropenia post-vaccination.
 
Details of Study Findings
Incidence rates of hematologic abnormalities in the vaccination group 3 months after vaccination were significantly higher than those in the nonvaccinated group: 14.79 vs. 9.59 (P<.001) for nutritional anemia, 7.83 vs. 5.00(P<.001) for aplastic anemia, and 4.85 vs. 1.85(P<.001) ) for coagulation defects. COVID-19 mRNA vaccine was associated with higher development of nutritional anemia (odds ratio [OR], 1.230 [95% CI, 1.129-1.339], P<.001) and aplastic anemia (OR, 1.242 [95% CI, 1.110-1.390] P<.001) than the viral vector vaccine. The risk of coagulation defects was increased (OR, 1.986 [95% CI, 1.523-2.589], P<.001) after vaccination, and there was no risk difference between mRNA vaccine and viral vector vaccine (OR, 1.075 [95% CI, 0.936-1.233], P=.306).
 
The findings showed that COVID-19 vaccination increased the risk of hematologic abnormalities.
 
Discussion: Unraveling the Complexities of Vaccine-Related Hematologic Abnormalities
The study's findings underscore the nuanced impact of COVID-19 vaccines on hematologic health. While mRNA vaccines were associated with higher risks of nutritional anemia and aplastic anemia, viral vector vaccines also contributed to coagulation defects. These results suggest a complex interplay between vaccine types, individual demographics, and underlying health conditions.
 
For those that might not know, aplastic anemia occurs when your bone marrow doesn't make enough red and white blood cells, and platelets. Having fewer red blood cells causes hemoglobin to drop. Hemoglobin is the part of blood that carries oxygen through your body. Having fewer white blood cells makes you more likely to get an infection. Aplastic anemia is a life-threatening condition with very high death rates (about 70% within 1 year) if untreated. The overall five-year survival rate is about 80% for patients under age 20. Although aplastic anemia is not a type of cancer, it is sometimes associated with leukemia. Aplastic anemia if left untreated, may increase the risk of developing blood cancers like acute myeloid leukemia and serious conditions like irregular heartbeat and heart failure.
 
Mechanistic Insights and Future Directions
The study hints at potential mechanisms underlying vaccine-related hematologic abnormalities, including autoimmune responses and molecular mimicry. Further research, including prospective studies and laboratory investigations, is warranted to elucidate these mechanisms comprehensively.
 
Clinical Implications and Risk Stratification
The study's insights have significant clinical implications, emphasizing the need for tailored risk assessment and close monitoring post-vaccination, especially among older adults, females, and individuals with comorbidities. Risk stratification based on vaccine type and individual characteristics can aid healthcare providers in mitigating adverse outcomes.
 
Conclusion: Navigating the Hematologic Landscape of COVID-19 Vaccines
In conclusion, the South Korean preprint study offers valuable insights into the hematologic consequences of COVID-19 vaccination. The findings highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance, risk assessment, and mechanistic investigations to ensure the safety and efficacy of vaccination programs globally. As the world continues its battle against the pandemic, understanding and addressing vaccine-related hematologic abnormalities remain crucial pillars of public health strategy.
 
The study findings were published on a preprint server and are currently being peer reviewed.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.11.15.23298565v1.full
 
Thailand Medical News would like to add that about two weeks ago, A Japanese preprint study raised warnings about the usage of blood from COVID-19 mRNA vaccinated individuals for use in blood transfusions. The study found that the blood of those who had received these mRNA vaccines had a lot of issues and were also ‘biologically contaminated’ and warned about safety issues of using such blood for transfusions as it can jeopardize the health and lives of the recipients!
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-japanese-researchers-warn-about-risks-associated-with-blood-transfusions-from-covid-19-mrna-vaccinated-individuals
 
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