Catching coronavirus presents bigger blood clot risk than getting vaccinated

Surge testing has been deployed in various areas in recent weeks Credit: PA Images

A study has revealed that the Covid-19 virus presents the biggest risk of blood clots compared to the vaccine.

Led by researchers at the University of Oxford, who studied the findings from over 29 million people vaccinated with either first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, they concluded that the virus poses a much greater risk of clots.

The study did show however that there is a "very small" risk of clotting and other blood disorders following the first does of the Covid-19 vaccination, which though serious, are much less likely than being infected with coronavirus.

Researchers say that this data shows the importance of getting vaccinated to reduce the risk of "clotting and bleeding outcomes" in individuals.

An individual receives their covid vaccine. Credit: PA Images

They analysed the rate of adverse events after vaccination with rates of the same events of a positive coronavirus test result, using data collected across England between December 1st 2020 and April 24th 2021.

Other outcomes studied were cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction and other rare arterial thrombotic events.

Researchers further note that the risk of these adverse events is substantially higher and for a longer period of time, following infection from the SARS-CoV-2 'coronavirus' than after either vaccine.

Bottles containing the Pfizer vaccine arrive at a vaccine centre Credit: PA Images

Aziz Sheikh, Professor of Primary Care Research & Development and Director of the Usher Institute at The University of Edinburgh and a co-author of the paper, said:

'This enormous study, using data on over 29 million vaccinated people, has shown that there is a very small risk of clotting and other blood disorders following first dose Covid-19 vaccination.  Though serious, the risk of these same outcomes is much higher following SARS-CoV-2 infection. 

'On balance, this analysis therefore clearly underscores the importance of getting vaccinated to reduce the risk of these clotting and bleeding outcomes in individuals, and because of the substantial public health benefit that Covid-19 vaccinations offer.'