Corona vaccination: anticoagulants are not an obstacle
Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.
More posts by Christiane Fux All content is checked by medical journalists.People with cardiovascular disease often take anticoagulants. This prevents blood clots from forming, but naturally increases the risk of bleeding. A vaccination against the coronavirus is important despite the higher risk of bleeding, explain experts from the German Heart Foundation. However, there are a few precautions that patients and clinicians should take into account.
Fine cannula and efficient pressing
The mRNA vaccines currently approved in Germany for the Covid-19 vaccination are injected into the muscles of the upper arm. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), this also applies to patients who take anticoagulants. However, very fine injection needles should be used for these patients. After the vaccination, patients should press the puncture site firmly for about five minutes.
As a precaution, they should stay at the vaccination center for 15 to 30 minutes for follow-up. "Heart patients with anticoagulants should expressly point this out when they are vaccinated at the vaccination center," emphasizes Prof. Thomas Meinertz from the Scientific Advisory Board of the German Heart Foundation. These simple but important measures reduced the risk of bleeding to a tolerable level.
"The protective effect of the corona vaccination against the life-threatening consequential damage or even death from Covid-19 far outweighs the risks from bleeding," said the cardiologist.
Don't just stop taking anticoagulants!
The expert expressly warns against discontinuing anticoagulant drugs in advance of the vaccination. Patients who take phenprocoumon (Marcumar / Falithrom) or Coumadin, for example because of an artificial heart valve, may be able to adjust the dose somewhat in consultation with their doctor. For this purpose, the so-called INR value is determined, which measures the strength of the anticoagulant.
On the day of the injection, the INR value should be in the order of about two and thus slightly below the therapeutic range, advises Meinertz. “This minimizes the risk of intramuscular bleeding.” The patient can then be readjusted to the therapeutic INR range. The normal dose of Marcumar can be taken again on the day of the vaccination.
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