The risk of serious thrombotic events posed by SARS-CoV-2 infection is up to 10 times higher than the risk associated with COVID-19 vaccines, a study suggests.

UK researchers who have crunched the numbers say their analysis, yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, could help inform public debate about the risks and benefits of vaccination.

The pre-print study appeared online shortly after the TGA confirmed the third Australian case of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine in a 48-year-old woman who died last week.

The woman, Genene Norris from Port Macquarie in NSW, received a dose of the viral-vector vaccine on the morning of 8 April, prior to ATAGI’s advice that Pfizer’s vaccine was preferred for under-50s.