The National Blood Authority (NBA) has been monitoring the rapidly evolving situation with regard to vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), otherwise known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) or vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia (VIPIT) following COVID-19 vaccination.
The NBA has temporarily added VITT as a condition to Version 3 of the Criteria for the Clinical Use of Immunoglobulin in Australia (Criteria) to enable supply of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) under the national blood arrangements for cases of genuine need. Referencing THANZ advice dated 17 April 2021, the Criteria for VITT, as it appears in BloodSTAR, can be found at https://www.criteria.blood.gov.au/MedicalCondition/View/2669The changes implemented by the NBA will ensure nationally consistent access to IVIg and remove the need to rely on access under Jurisdictional Direct Order arrangements for such cases. It will also support the continued rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in Australia.The addition of VITT to the Criteria is temporary and the normal processes of evaluation and further criteria development will be undertaken by the relevant NBA Specialist Working Groups and its National Immunoglobulin Governance Advisory Committee.
