A “fit and healthy” man has died from a blood clot on the brain after he was mistakenly given a controversial Covid-19 vaccine due to an administrative error.
Jack Last, 27, was only offered the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine because records incorrectly listed him as living with his “at-risk” parents, a report has revealed.
The engineer from Stowmarket, Suffolk, complained of headaches after receiving the vaccine on March 30, 2021. He died three weeks later on April 20.
Just a week after receiving the jab, government health advisers urged people under 30 to take an alternative vaccine to AstraZeneca because of a higher risk of fatal blood clots.
A new report published by the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board found Mr Last was only given the vaccine because he was wrongly identified as someone who lived with his parents.
Jack Last, 27, died at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge on 20 April 2021, just weeks after receiving the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.
His sister Jasmine previously described Jack as being “an amazing uncle” to her nephew Reggie.
He also described his brother as an “adventurer” and said: “He did a lot with his life.”
Her medical record mistakenly had the same landline number as her parents, who met the criteria for an at-risk age group.
But she had actually moved into her own home in 2018 and updated her contact details, but her parents’ landline number had remained incorrect on her record.
Mr. Last received his first dose on March 30, 2021, days before new guidance was issued offering alternative Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for people under 30.
The report also concluded that his death was a result of “systemic deficiencies, human error and unfortunate and tragic timing.”
A family statement said it was “heartbreaking” to learn of the errors that led to him being invited to receive the vaccine early.
She previously detailed how she was surprised to be offered her first dose of a Covid vaccine so soon because she had no underlying conditions.
The day before Mr Last received his text on March 20, it was agreed to expand the eligibility criteria for the vaccine to those living with eligible patients.
Searches were conducted by matching people with their landline numbers and Mr Last was invited because his records showed he was listed as “living together” with his parents.
She began to feel unwell on 5 April and contacted NHS 111 for advice on 9 April.
Mr Last was later told by a clinical adviser to visit West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.
In 2016, Mr Last spent six months working with the British Antarctic Survey in Antarctica (pictured in his uniform), where he drove a traverse system to drop off scientific equipment.
Later in 2018, he obtained his US pilot’s license and traveled to California, where he flew over the Golden Gate Bridge, passing the Hollywood sign (pictured).
Mr Last was scanned using an out-of-hours service outsourced to an independent company.
The radiologist reported on the CT scan that there were no acute abnormalities in her brain. This was later found to be inaccurate.
The report says: “It would also have been advisable to refer Jack immediately to another hospital or facility that could provide the CT venogram he needed, rather than waiting until the next day.”
A CT venogram was performed the next day which showed a blood clot, delaying treatment by 15 hours.
The report concluded that while this delay was unlikely to have changed the outcome for Last, it was still a missed opportunity.
When his condition worsened, he was transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
Suffolk and North East Essex ICB Medical Director Dr Andrew Kelso said: ‘Our thoughts remain with Jack’s family and have been there throughout this tragic case.
The AstraZeneca vaccine was the most widely used in the UK during the initial rollout of the vaccination programme, before it was linked to a risk of blood clots.
Researchers believe the rare side effect occurs because the modified cold virus lurking in the vaccine has an adverse effect on blood platelets, triggering clotting.
‘On behalf of all partners in the system, we sincerely regret what has happened and the loss, pain and anguish you must be experiencing.
‘Given the seriousness of what happened, we immediately commissioned an independent review to fully understand what led to this tragedy and identify lessons learned.
‘We also wanted to give the family all the answers to their questions.
‘This independent review allowed the system to analyze the incident from start to finish, unrestricted by organizational boundaries and without bias.’
An inquest into Jack’s death in 2022 ruled that he had died as a “direct result” of the vaccination.
The AstraZeneca vaccine, which was effectively withdrawn, was eventually found to carry a very rare risk of causing potentially fatal blood clots.
This side effect, which was not detected in clinical trials simply because it is rare, is called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) or, alternatively, vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT).
This complication, which was only officially detected in March 2021, causes blood clots and a low platelet count. Platelets normally help blood clot.
These clots can cause death and disability. Some people suffered brain injuries, while others had to have limbs amputated.
The complication is extremely rare, considering the millions of doses distributed during the process. The risk is thought to be one in 50,000, although some estimates put it even lower.
The first cases of blood clots were detected in the EU. Several countries on the continent have reduced or even suspended distribution of the vaccine.
Britain eventually followed in the footsteps of its European neighbours, first stopping vaccinations for people under 30 and, weeks later, for people under 40.
Experts based this on the fact that younger groups are at lower risk of contracting Covid, meaning the benefits of getting the vaccine are not worth it.
Around 50 families and people who have died or become disabled as a result of the rare side effect are suing AstraZeneca in court for compensation, arguing that its vaccine is “defective” and claiming it is responsible for their injuries and the deaths of their loved ones.
If successful, it will be the British taxpayer who will foot the bill, which lawyers have estimated could run as high as £250m. under an agreement reached between the pharmaceutical giant and ministers in the darkest days of the Covid pandemic isolation.
The deal was intended to protect vaccine makers from the risk of being sued over any extremely rare adverse side effects not detected in clinical trials, to ensure vaccines could be rolled out in the UK as soon as possible and bring an end to crippling lockdowns.
TTS is believed to be linked to at least 81 deaths in the UK, according to figures compiled by the UK’s medicines watchdog, the MHRA.
However, not all are proven and not all families seek legal action.
