There are rumors and misinformation circulating in some online forums that suggest airlines may deny boarding to COVID-19 vaccinated passengers due to a risk of blood clots.
There is no truth to these suggestions.
IATA is not aware of any airlines considering denying vaccinated passengers travel due to the blood clot risk. IATA has a medical advisory group that looks at health and air travel issues. The issue of preventing travel due to blood clots as a side-effect of COVID-19 vaccination is not on their agenda and has never been suggested to this group as a risk.
We are also not aware of any suggestion in medical literature that the particular blood clot phenomenon (known as Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia or VITT), which has been designated as a rare side effect of one or possibly two types of COVID vaccines, has any impact on air travel.
VITT is not DVT
VITT is a different disorder from blood clots in the leg (Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT) and/or lung (pulmonary embolism) which can be associated with immobility, in particular following surgery, limb injury, bed-rest, or sometimes prolonged sitting during travel. Aside from immobility, there are many risk factors including pregnancy, oral contraceptives, certain cancers, being overweight, varicose veins, and underlying disorders of the clotting system. Cases which occur in association with long-distance travel (air, rail or road) usually have pre-existing risk factors such as these, and those who are known to be susceptible can be prescribed medication to reduce their risk.
We advocate that people who have been vaccinated should be free to travel without restriction.