Joanna Hauken (47) works as a physiotherapist and training instructor in Bergen. She has been mostly healthy all her life, but about 14 days after receiving the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, she noticed that something was wrong.
She had a headache, shortness of breath and cold sweats. She also noticed that she had to use lighter weights when she trained at work and the patients she trained with ran from her on the stairs.
– I tried to continue working as an instructor as usual, but I felt that this was very strenuous. Too strenuous, says Hauken to Dagbladet.
Towards the measures: – Ensures support through fear
Blood clot
Bergen municipality sent out an SMS to everyone who had received the vaccine, when the use of AstraZeneca was put on pause. In the SMS, they were asked to be extra aware of possible side effects. Hauken is happy about that.
She went to the emergency room on Sunday night, which sent her on to Haukeland the next morning. There she was diagnosed with a blood clot in her lungs.
– I had an appointment at Haukeland at half past eight on Monday morning. I did not feel very ill when I arrived, but I had a headache and pressure in my chest, she says.
Director of the Norwegian Medicines Agency, Audun Hågå, after the press conference on Thursday 18 March. Reporter: Ralf Lopstad / Dagbladet. Video: Edward Stenlund / Dagbladet TV.
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She says that the doctors did a number of examinations. Among other things, they found that two blood values had changed.
– It can be a symptom of a blood clot, the doctor said, Hauken says.
The doctors took CT of her lungs and MRI of her brain. In the pictures they found the blood clot.
The story of Hauken is told by both NRK and Bergensavisen.
Investigating context
The EU says yes – Norway is waiting
The Norwegian Medicines Agency and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health have suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to find out why some people get a blood clot after being vaccinated.
The health authorities have been clear that they believe there is a connection, and are investigating why there appear to be more cases of severe blood clots after AstraZeneca vaccination in Norway, than in other countries.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the World Health Organization have concluded that the benefits of using the vaccine outweigh the disadvantages, and advise countries to resume use of the vaccine.
EMA: The AstraZeneca vaccine is safe
– Goes well
Hauken says that she is responsible for the choice she made to be vaccinated.
– I have always taken vaccines, and I will take vaccines in the future as well. I stand for the importance of getting vaccinated. I think it was the right choice I made, she says.
She is still clear that if she did it again, she would probably choose another vaccine.
– If I had the opportunity to choose again, I would have chosen Pfizer, she says.
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Want answers
Hauken says that she has been very well taken care of, and she emphasizes that she had been in good hands at Haukeland. Things are also going better now.
– I have never sat so much on the sofa as now, but otherwise it goes well, says Hauken.
– The cause has been found
Now she hopes that the doctors will find out why someone gets a blood clot, and how the connection is between a blood clot and a vaccine. It is common for people to get blood clots, but it is not as common for people like Hauken, who are otherwise healthy and in good physical shape.
– I would like an answer as to why I got it, Hauken says.
Now the training instructor and physiotherapist are looking forward to going for a walk around the house tomorrow.
– My life largely consists of moving and working with people, and using my arms and legs. So now I hope I get back to work, she says.
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