My understanding is that the larger point, apart from any comparison between the AZ and Pfizer vaccines, is the “blood clot question” seemed to ignore the general population baseline. I interpreted Zvi’s point about the new study as being evidence that there’s no extra risk from the vaccines above the baseline risk.
It would also require our authorities to be complete idiots, beyond the level of incompetence one could reasonably expect. Unless it has literally been paid off by Pfizer, the Australian government does not have an interest in spreading FUD about AZ; quite the opposite, because our vaccine rollout strategy relied quite heavily on AZ and has been impacted in a politically-damaging way by TTS fears.
(Please note that I’m definitely not trying to discourage anyone from getting the vaccine; it is clearly much much better than taking one’s chances with Covid. The practical relevance of this debate is specific to my situation as a cautious hermit in a place with very low prevalence and other vaccines expected to be available soon.)
My understanding is that the larger point, apart from any comparison between the AZ and Pfizer vaccines, is the “blood clot question” seemed to ignore the general population baseline. I interpreted Zvi’s point about the new study as being evidence that there’s no extra risk from the vaccines above the baseline risk.
That explanation is incompatible with the finding that TTS is an order of magnitude less common after the second dose than after the first. (see e.g. https://mvec.mcri.edu.au/references/thrombosis-with-thrombocytopenia-syndrome/)
It would also require our authorities to be complete idiots, beyond the level of incompetence one could reasonably expect. Unless it has literally been paid off by Pfizer, the Australian government does not have an interest in spreading FUD about AZ; quite the opposite, because our vaccine rollout strategy relied quite heavily on AZ and has been impacted in a politically-damaging way by TTS fears.
edit: better links are https://www.tga.gov.au/periodic/covid-19-vaccine-weekly-safety-report-05-08-2021 and https://www.health.gov.au/news/atagi-update-following-weekly-covid-19-meeting-28-july-2021 .
(Please note that I’m definitely not trying to discourage anyone from getting the vaccine; it is clearly much much better than taking one’s chances with Covid. The practical relevance of this debate is specific to my situation as a cautious hermit in a place with very low prevalence and other vaccines expected to be available soon.)