BBC Presenter Lisa Shaw Dies of Covid Vaccine Complications, Coroner Says | BBC

An award-winning BBC Radio presenter has died from complications from the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, a coroner has concluded.

Lisa Shaw, who worked for BBC Radio Newcastle, died at the town’s Royal Victoria Infirmary in May, just over three weeks after her first dose of the vaccine developed by academics at Oxford University.

The inquest heard that Shaw, 44, was admitted to hospital after doctors investigating her headache complaints discovered that she had suffered from a brain hemorrhage.

Newcastle Senior Coroner Karen Dilks gave a narrative conclusion. “Lisa died from complications from an AstraZeneca Covid vaccine,” she said.

Shaw, who was referred to by her married name Lisa Eve during the hearing, began complaining of headaches a few days after her vaccination. She eventually visited an emergency and emergency department of a hospital in Durham, where she was diagnosed with a blood clot.

She was transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary where she received a number of treatments including the removal of part of her skull to relieve the pressure on her brain, but despite these efforts she died on 21 may.

Her husband, Gareth Eve, attended the inquest along with other family members.

Tuomo Polvikoski, a pathologist, told coroner Shaw was fit and healthy before receiving the vaccine. When asked about the underlying cause of the fatal clotting on his brain, he said the clinical evidence “strongly supports the idea that it was, indeed, a vaccine.”

“Based on the available clinical information, this seems to be the most likely explanation,” he said.

Shaw’s death came weeks after the UK Vaccine Advisory Group limited the use of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine to those over 40, after rare reports of recipients developing unusual blood clots with low platelet counts . A number of other countries have imposed similar restrictions or suspended the use of the vaccine altogether.

Deaths from clots are even rarer. Tthere were 72 deaths in the UK after 24.8 million first doses and 23.9 million second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Dr Alison Cave, safety officer for the Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency which approves vaccines for use in the UK, said the benefits of Covid vaccines outweighed the risks and urged people to get vaccinated if they are eligible. She said: “Lisa Shaw’s death is tragic and our hearts are with her family.

“As with any suspected serious side effect, we evaluate reports of death, including an evaluation of post-mortem details if available. We will review the coroner’s verdict.

The family released a statement that said, “This is another difficult day in what has been a devastating time for us. The death of our beloved Lisa has left a terrible void in our family and in our lives.

“She was truly the most wonderful woman, mother, daughter, sister and friend. We have said everything we wanted to say in public at the moment and ask to be left alone to mourn and rebuild our lives in private. Thank you.”