Pinay who developed blood disorder after COVID-19 shot: Pangalawang buhay ko na ito

The 72-year-old Filipina in New York who developed a blood disorder after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in January is grateful for what she considers her second life.

"Pangalawang buhay ko na nga raw ito dahil hindi rin nila sukat akalain na malalampasan ko ito," Luz Legaspi said in an interview, according to a report by Mai Bermudez on GMA News' Unang Balita on Monday.

"Talagang ginawa nilang lahat ang dapat nilang gawin. Nagtulong-tulong sila. Pati nga doktor sa labas eh," she said.

Legaspi, who has been in New York with her family for the past seven years, received the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on January 18.

"Naghanap ang anak ko kung saan dahil ang gusto ko talaga, mabakunahan. Kasi ang katuwiran ko, mas mahirap ang ma-COVID," she said.

Legaspi did not feel any adverse side effect on the day she received her shot. However, when she woke up the next day, there were bruises on her arms and blood in her mouth.

"Paggising ko ng umaga, nang magsepilyo ako, pagmumog ko, puro dugo ang bibig ko. Ang akala ko lang, nabangga lang ng sepilyo 'yung aking gilagid o 'yung ano ng bibig ko. Hindi ko inaasahan na talaga palang nadudugo 'yung bibig ko," she said.

"Nang ngumanga ako, palibot na 'yung aking bibig ng mga namuong dugo. Pati dila ko, meron nang buong dugo sa dila ko. At hindi na tumigil 'yung pagdudugo ng bibig ko. Pati ilong ko, nagdudugo na," Legaspi added.

Rashes also broke out in her whole body. She was confined for two weeks at Elmhurst Hospital then was discharged when she got better.

"Siguro nga, sa pananalig ko sa Diyos na hindi ako pababayaan, kasama ko Siya saan man ako makarating, ganoon. Ganoon ang ano ko sa sarili ko eh," Legaspi said.

She will no longer receive the second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine which has been scheduled on Feb. 23. Doctors said her body will not be able to take it.

Thrombocytopenia

According to an article in the New York Times (NYT), Legaspi developed immune thrombocytopenia, wherein her platelet count became low and the platelets lost their ability to help in blood clotting. Such condition may lead to internal bleeding.

Moderna did not give a comment about the case, but said it is continuously monitoring effects of their vaccine.

The same case happened to a 56-year-old doctor named Gregory Michael who developed thrombocytopenia three days after receiving a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

However, Michael passed away after two weeks due to brain hemorrhage after his platelet count did not increase anymore, according to an article in the NYT.

"We take reports of adverse events very seriously," Pfizer said, according to the NYT article.

"We are collecting relevant information to share with the FDA. However, at this time, we have not been able to establish a causal association with our vaccine," it added.

The World Health Organization reiterated that after they are given COVID-19 vaccines, recipients should be closely monitored for possible side effects.

The Philippine Foundation for Vaccination meanwhile said thrombocytopenia is a possible side effect of a vaccine or medicine. However, there is not enough evidence yet to warrant avoiding and fearing COVID-19 vaccination. —KG, GMA News