Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia in a male after Ad26.COV2.S vaccination presenting as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a rare and life-threatening complication that can occur after COVID-19 vaccination. After the first reports of VITT and CVST in 2021 after Ad26.COV2.S vaccination, the FDA and CDC recommended an emergency pause on 13 April 2021, and after extensive safety reviews, on 23 April 2021, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reaffirmed its original recommendation for use of the Ad26.COV2.S vaccination. As of 31 August 2021, in the United States, 54 cases of VITT following Ad26.COV2.S vaccination (37 female, 17 male) have been reported out of 14.1 million total shots given, 29 of which had cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). With more data, on 16 December 2021, the CDC endorsed the ACIP recommendations for individuals to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in preference over the Ad26.COV2.S vaccination. We report a rare case of a male with confirmed VITT and CVST following Ad26.COV2.S vaccination.

Fighting for inclusion across borders: Latin American Trans women's health in Canada

BACKGROUND

Worldwide, Trans women from Latin America experience some of the highest rates of violence, which has led many to emigrate. There is limited research exploring the experiences of Trans migrants, and most LGBTQI2S + migrant research focuses on immigrant gay men. This study uses the frameworks of Intersectionality and the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) to examine the impact of migration on the health and wellbeing of Latin American Trans women living in Toronto, Canada.

METHODOLOGY

This qualitative arts-based study included nine participants and used hand mapping, a sociodemographic questionnaire, and focus groups to generate data. Data analysis encompassed inductive and deductive approaches and rigor was maintained through reflexivity and several verification strategies.

RESULTS

While migration was used as a safety strategy, participants' multiple identities as immigrants, Trans women, and Latinas, produced compounded experiences of oppression post-migration. Facing transphobia and xenophobia simultaneously, participants were forced to navigate precarious housing and employment, minimal social capital, and low social position. This limited their ability to exercise power and ultimately caused poor health and wellbeing post-migration; however, participants used sophisticated strategies to resist asymmetrical power relations, actively searching for safety and community participation, and caring for themselves and each other.

CONCLUSION

The participants fought for inclusion across borders of economic exclusion and gender identity, borders of power and social position, as well as geopolitical borders. Their intersectional experiences across these "borders" should be understood in the context of migration without liberation, consumption without income, compounding oppressions, as well as positive intersectionality. While the women's resistance and strength are positive by-products of fighting oppression, they cannot be the solution. Access to health and wellbeing should not be a privilege for some; it must be a right for all.