A CHESHIRE council worker has died from a blood clot on the brain after being given the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.

Neil Astles died aged 59 in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital on Easter Sunday, having suffered 10 days of ‘worsening headaches’ and a loss of vision in the 10 days following his first Covid-19 jab on March 17.

The married Warrington Borough Council solicitor is the first named person in the UK who is suspected to have passed away as a result of side effects.

But his family have urged members of the public to continue to receive the vaccine to ‘keep saving lives’.

His sister Dr Alison Astles, subject leader for pharmacy at the University of Huddersfield, told the Daily Telegraph: “Despite what has happened to our family, we strongly believe that everyone should go for their first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“Emotionally, we are completely and utterly furious – we are suffering.

“But there’s nothing in our minds to be really furious about, my brother was just extraordinarily unlucky.

“If we all have the vaccine, a few of us might have a blood clot – but the evidence is that fewer people will die.

“We trust the process, we trust the regulator and despite what has happened to our family we don’t want people to be scared off.

“That’s the message we want to get across.”

Dr Astles stated that her brother’s diagnosis was ‘cerebral sinus thrombosis and subarachnoid haemorrhage with low platelets and extraordinarily high d-dimer’.

The coroner has not yet recorded an official cause of death.

Council chief executive Steven Broomhead added: “Neil was a very highly valued colleague who had worked with us since November 2017.

"He was respected as a technically excellent property lawyer and worked positively with colleagues to drive significant projects forward.

“More importantly, he was a very decent, good man who was well liked by all who worked with him.

"Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with his family and friends.”

Mr Astles’ death comes in the wake of growing concerns about the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, centring on some recipients having developed blood clots after administration.

Several countries have restricted its use as a result.

And the British Government announced on Wednesday that under 30s would receive Pfizer or Moderna jabs instead after regulators said that there was a ‘strong possibility’ that it had caused deadly clots.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency received 79 such reports before March 31, all in patients who had received their first dose, out of around 20 million given.

Of these 79 people, 19 have died – although the causes of all of these deaths have not yet been established.

Deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said during a press conference yesterday afternoon: “We’re talking in the context of extremely small numbers.

“This is a course correction, but it’s quite normal for physicians to alter their preferences over time.

“The UK vaccine has been the most enormous success.

“This is a massive beast that we are driving along at enormous pace and enormous success.

“And if you sail a massive liner across the Atlantic, then it’s not really reasonable that you aren’t going to make at least one course correction on that voyage.”

Thara Raj, WBC's director of public health, said: "Vaccination is extremely important in helping us in the fight against coronavirus.

"Please don’t hesitate to take up the offer of a vaccination when you are invited.

"It is advised by the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations that everyone continues to go for their vaccination – whether it is the AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna injection.

"As an extra precaution, and while the data is being further investigated, the JCVI has suggested that people under 30 who are not clinically extremely vulnerable will be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

"For those who are under 30 and in a clinically extremely vulnerable group, it is being advised that you take up the AstraZeneca vaccine if offered it because the benefits far outweigh any risks.

"This is particularly important if you have already had a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and have the second dose booked in.

"Please attend your appointment."