At least 36 people may have developed a rare blood disorder, known as immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), after taking either Pfizer and BioNTech or Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines, according to a report.
The condition develops when the immune system attacks platelets, a blood component essential for clotting, or the cells that create them, for unknown reasons.
According to The New York Times, the cases were reported to VAERS, the government’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, as of the end of January. However, the system relies on individuals to send in reports of their experiences to the CDC and FDA, and does not indicate whether vaccines actually caused the problems.
The Platelet Disorder Support Association estimates that approximately 50,000 people in the U.S. are currently living with and successfully managing ITP, and most cases are either persistent (lasting six to 12 months) or chronic (lasting more than a year). Immune thrombocytopenia can sometimes follow a viral illness, such as COVID-19.
A spokesperson for the Food and Drug Administration told FOX News that it is actively monitoring the safety of COVID-19 vaccines alongside the Centers for Disesease Control and Prevention to identify and address potential safety concerns.
