Lisa Shaw: BBC presenter's death due to complications from COVID vaccine

BBC radio presenter Lisa Shaw died due to complications from the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, a coroner has ruled.

Shaw, 44, a radio presenter for BBC Newcastle, died on 21 May at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, three weeks after her first dose of the vaccine, having been treated in intensive care for blood clots and bleeding.

Following an inquest in Newcastle, on Thursday a coroner ruled that Shaw died due to complications from the vaccine.

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In a statement issued after the hearing, the presenter's family said: "This is another difficult day in what has been a devastating time for us.

"The death of our beloved Lisa has left a terrible void in our family and in our lives.

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"She truly was the most wonderful wife, mum, daughter, sister and friend.

"We have said all we want to say in public at this time and ask to be left alone to grieve and rebuild our lives in private."

The inquest, which lasted less than an hour, was told that Shaw was admitted to hospital after she complained of headaches and doctors found a haemorrhage on her brain.

Her husband Gareth Eve, who paid tribute to her as “a fantastic mammy, daughter and sister", has previously called for people to be given a choice in what vaccine they are given.

The coroner's ruling may bring a resurgence in concerns around the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which was halted in several European countries earlier this year amid worries about links to blood clots.

The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has previously said the benefits of the jab continue to outweigh risks for most people.

The risk of a clot linked to the jab is thought to be about one in 100,000 for people in their 40s. The risk of death in any age due to such a clot has been put at about one in a million.

Following Shaw's death, an MHRA spokesperson said: “We are saddened to hear about the death of Lisa Shaw and our thoughts are with her family.

"As with any serious suspected adverse reaction, reports with a fatal outcome are fully evaluated by the MHRA, including an assessment of post-mortem details if available.

"Our detailed and rigorous review into reports of blood clots occurring together with thrombocytopenia is ongoing."

Shaw previously worked in commercial radio and won a Sony Gold Award in 2012 for the breakfast show she hosted on Real Radio with co-host Gary Philipson.

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