The devastated family of man who died of blood clots weeks after getting the AstraZeneca jab are taking legal action. Jack Hurn received his first dose of the vaccine on May 29 last year.
They had allegedly asked staff about alternative vaccines as they were "aware of concerns around the use of AstraZeneca" for younger people, Coventry Live reports. Lawyers say medical advice at the time recommended that under-30s should get an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine after it was revealed that younger people were at greater risk of blood clots.
However, staff reassured the family that it was safe and they went ahead with the vaccination. Jack, from Redditch, started suffering headaches within days and died 11 days later at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital where doctors allegedly described him as having "catastrophic" blood clots on his brain.
Lawyer Michael Portman-Hann, an associate with the firm’s clinical negligence team, said the family hoped an inquest being held later this month in Birmingham would answer some of the questions they have around Jack’s death. He said: "Jack, a first class honours graduate of Coventry University, had recently bought his first home with his partner, Alex Jones, who also received her vaccine at the same time. She only found out after his death that he was planning to propose that summer.
"Jack’s parents, Tracey and Peter, his sister, Abby, Alex and both their families are completely devastated and are still trying to come to terms with what happened. Jack and Alex asked staff at the vaccine clinic about the Pfizer alternative as they were aware of concerns around the use of Astra Zeneca for younger people.
"Alex and Jack were reassured by the staff at the centre that the vaccine was safe, and with no Pfizer doses available that day, they felt encouraged by vaccine staff to go ahead with what was on offer."
Mr Portman-Hann continued: "Jack began to suffer headaches which got progressively worse and he was admitted to the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch where a scan revealed a clot on his brain. Jack’s family, who live in Devon, found it very difficult to get up-to-date information from hospital staff over the course of a number of days.
"They say there was confusion about whether Jack had actually suffered a stroke while at Redditch and could get no clear answers about his condition. Jack was transferred to the Queen Elizabeth (hospital) in Birmingham, where after scans a consultant informed them that there were numerous bleeds on Jack’s brain which were catastrophic. Given the family’s concerns over advice given during the vaccine clinic visit and what happened in the period between Jack being admitted to hospital and his death, we are supporting them to find answers which we’re hopeful an inquest will help provide."
An inquest into Jack's death is to be held on May 23.
