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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Alan Johnson

Man died of 'catastrophic' Covid jab reaction after outdated advice from vaccine hub

A 26-year-old graduate died from a rare AstraZeneca Covid vaccine complication after being given out-of-date information about the risk of blood clots, Birmingham Coroner's Court heard.

Jack Hurn, originally from Devon but living in Redditch, Worcestershire at the time, lost his life in June 2021 less than two weeks after receiving the jab.

A week-long inquest was told that a GP informed Mr Hurn the risk of a blood clot on the brain for his age group was one in 250,000 - at a time when the most recent NHS guidance estimated it to be one in 50,000.

The inquest heard the Coventry University automotive design graduate later went ahead with his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine on May 29, after Dudley's Revival Fires vaccination hub informed him they had no stock of the Pfizer equivalent.

Jack Hurn died less than two weeks after getting jabbed (PA)
He was planning to propose to his partner Alex Jones (PA)

Mr Hurn subsequently became unwell eight days after the jab and died in Birmingham Queen Elizabeth hospital on June 11, despite undergoing emergency surgery. Doctors allegedly described him as having "catastrophic" blood clots on his brain.

NHS guidance at the time stated patients aged under 40 should be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine, although they could decide on "an informed choice" to receive it.

Recording a narrative verdict on Friday, Birmingham area coroner Emma Brown said: "It is agreed that Jack was told the risk was one in 250,000.

"There can be no doubt that he took that on board.

"At that time the Joint Committee in Vaccines and Immunisation had advised that it was preferable that adults under 40 without underlying conditions be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

Jack's devastated family hoped the inquest would answer their questions about the tragedy (PA)

"But people could make an informed choice to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine for earlier protection.

She added: "Jack was not given all of the information to make an informed choice.

"In particular the risk of complications for his age group was understated."

Prior to the inquest, lawyer Michael Portman-Hann said the family hoped it would help answer some of the questions they had around Jack's death.

At the time Mr Portman-Hann 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."

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