A HEALTHY BBC presenter died after suffering “severe” headaches and a brain bleed just days after having the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.
Lisa Shaw’s interim fact-of-death certificate lists the dose as one of the possible factors.
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The 44-year-old mum-of-one, who worked for BBC Newcastle, developed the symptoms a week after her first jab and fell seriously ill a few days later, her family said in a statement.
She died in hospital from blood clots and bleeding in her head on Friday.
Lisa was not known to have any underlying health problems, the BBC reports.
Colleagues said they had seen the certificate issued by the city’s senior coroner Karen Dilks which said an investigation will be held.
It lists a “complication of AstraZeneca Covid-19 virus vaccination” as a consideration.
But despite the potential link to her coronavirus jab, experts say the vaccine’s benefits far exceed the risks for most people and cases of blood clots linked to the vaccine are extremely rare.
There have been 332 reported cases and 58 reported deaths out of the almost 35 million doses of the AZ vaccine in the UK, according to the latest Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency data.
Lisa‘s devastated relatives told of their heartbreak, saying “there is a Lisa-shaped hole in our lives that will never be filled”.
They said in a statement: “She was treated by the Royal Victoria Infirmary’s intensive care team for blood clots and bleeding in her head.
“Tragically, she passed away, surrounded by her family, on Friday afternoon.
“We are devastated and there is a Lisa-shaped hole in our lives that can never be filled. We will love and miss her always.
“It’s been a huge comfort to see how loved she was by everyone whose lives she touched, and we ask for privacy at this time to allow us to grieve as a family.”
‘MISS HER ALWAYS’
It comes as 24.2million first doses and 10.7million second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been given in the UK.
The incidence rate of clots after first doses was 13 per million doses.
People under 40 in the UK are being offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of extremely rare blood clots on the brain.
The MHRA has said the benefits of the Oxford-AZ vaccine continue to outweigh risks for most people.
It has not proven the vaccine causes the clots but has said the link is getting firmer.
Since Lisa’s death was announced on air on Sunday, tributes from colleagues and listeners have poured in.
The mum joined the station BBC Radio Newcastle in 2016, after working in commercial radio in the North East – with stints at Metro Radio and Heart.
BBC Radio Newcastle’s acting executive editor Rik Martin said: “She was a trusted colleague, a brilliant presenter, a wonderful friend, and a loving wife and mum.
“She loved being on the radio and was loved by our audiences.
“We’ve lost someone special who meant a great deal to a great many people.”
‘FULL OF LIFE’
Lisa grew up in County Durham and studied at Bournemouth University.
She also won the Sony Gold Award for breakfast show of the year.
Chris Burns, head of BBC Local Radio, said: “Lisa was a talented presenter who had already achieved a lot and would have achieved much more.”
BBC presenter Alfie Joey fought back tears as he announced the death of his colleague Lisa on air.
He told BBC Radio Newcastle listeners it was news he didn’t want to have to break and described Lisa as “kind, calm, full of life” and a “very special person”.
His voice cracked as he paid tribute to the mum, saying: “We are so sorry and we are so saddened to share with you that our beautiful friend and lovely college Lisa Shaw has died from a very short ilness at the age of only 44.
“Lisa, as you know, was genuine, warm, kind calm, and full of life.
“She was a wife she was a mam, a very special person. She meant a lot to a lot of people, including us. Everyone here is absolutely gutted.”
He then played Thank You for Being a Friend by Andrew Gold.
An MHRA spokesperson said: “We are saddened to hear about the death of Lisa Shaw and our thoughts are with her family.
“As with any serious suspected adverse reaction, reports with a fatal outcome are fully evaluated by the MHRA, including an assessment of post-mortem details if available.
“Our detailed and rigorous review into reports of blood clots occurring together with thrombocytopenia is ongoing.”
