A man in his 70s from Washington, DC went to hospital after noticing blood in his stool and large bruises on his arms. At first, he thought the bleeding was linked to a medical procedure he had recently undergone.
Doctors later discovered he was suffering from a very rare condition called acquired hemophilia A. This disorder prevents the blood from clotting properly and can cause serious internal and external bleeding. The man had no family history of bleeding disorders and had never experienced similar symptoms before.
Medical staff traced the start of his symptoms to about one week after he received a Covid vaccine booster made by Moderna. This was his fifth Covid shot. Specialists believe the vaccine may have triggered an abnormal immune response that attacked a key protein needed for blood clotting. They emphasized that this type of reaction is extremely rare.
Acquired hemophilia A mainly affects older adults and can be life-threatening if not diagnosed quickly. Bleeding can occur under the skin, in muscles, or inside the body, including the digestive system or brain. Early treatment is critical.
The man was referred to a specialist clinic and began treatment to suppress the immune response. His condition has since improved. Doctors continue to stress that Covid vaccines have saved millions of lives and that serious side effects like this are very uncommon, but unusual symptoms should always be checked promptly.