The death of an Albertan has been linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Late on Tuesday night, Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw confirmed the link in a media statement.
"As chief medical officer of health, I am sad to report that tonight we have confirmed the death of an Alberta woman in her 50s from VITT following vaccination from the AstraZeneca vaccine," Hinshaw wrote.
VITT is vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia – known more commonly as a rare clotting disorder. Hinshaw said the frequency of VITT is roughly one in 100,000 to 250,000 doses of vaccine. This was the second VITT case recorded in Alberta, and the first death, with more than 253,000 doses of AstraZeneca or CoviSHIELD/AstraZeneca administered so far.
The province will not be releasing any other information on the case "out of respect for patient confidentiality and the privacy of the grieving family," Hinshaw added.
“While any death is tragic, it is important to remember that the risks of dying or suffering other severe outcomes from COVID-19 remain far greater than the risk following AstraZeneca vaccine."
Hinshaw stated Albertans between the ages of 50 and 59 who have COVID-1 are 359 times more likely to die from the virus and 1,500 times more likely to be hospitalized than to experience VITT.
