BBC radio presenter died after suffering blood clots, family says
An award-winning BBC Radio Newcastle presenter died in hospital after suffering blood clots after she received the AstraZeneca vaccine, her family has said.
Lisa Shaw developed "severe" headaches a week after having the jab and fell seriously ill a few days later, relatives said in a statement.
The 44-year-old died at the Royal Victoria Infirmary on Friday afternoon (21 May) having been treated in intensive care for blood clots and bleeding.
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 coupled with low blood platelet count.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had said the benefits of the Oxford/AstraZeneca 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 Ms Shaw's death was announced on air on Sunday, tributes from colleagues and listeners have poured in.
In a statement released by the BBC, the mother-of-one's family said:
"Lisa developed severe headaches a week after receiving her AstraZeneca vaccine and fell seriously ill a few days later. 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."
Shaw previously worked in commercial radio and won a Sony Gold Award in 2012 for the breakfast show she hosted on Real Radio with co-host Gary Philipson.
A spokesperson for the hospital said: "We were incredibly saddened by the news of Lisa's death but it would be inappropriate for us to discuss individual details about a patient. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the family at this difficult time."
The risk of a clot linked to the jab is thought to be about one in 100,000 for people in their 40s. The risk of death in any age due to such a clot has been put at about one in a million.
An MHRA spokesperson said: