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'No indication' AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine causes blood clots - EMA
16th Mar 2021 13:42
(Sharecast News) - The European Medicines Agency said on Tuesday there is "no indication" that AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine causes blood clots.
Emer Cooke, executive director of the EMA, said at a press conference that the agency continues to believe the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risk of side effects, but that there is "serious concern" which warrants a "serious and detailed" scientific consideration.
"Vaccines for Covid-19 help to protect individuals from becoming ill, especially healthcare professionals and vulnerable populations such as older people and people with chronic diseases," she said.
Results of the EMA's investigation into the Oxford University vaccine are due on Thursday.
"We are looking at adverse events associated with all vaccines," said Cooke, noting the Pfizer and Moderna jabs appeared to be linked to similar numbers of blood clots as the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The investigation comes after several European countries, including France, Italy, Spain and Germany, suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine after some recipients suffered blood clots following the jab. In Austria, one person was admitted to hospital with a pulmonary embolism and died 10 days after having the vaccine.
Last week, Austria suspended a particular batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine after the incident. However, Cooke said on Tuesday that it's unlikely any issue with the jab is batch-specific.
As at 10 March, there had been 30 reported thromboembolic events among around 5 million people vaccinated. Cooke said there were also additional cases reported over the weekend.
Overall, the EMA said the number of thromboembolic events in vaccinated people seemed to be no higher than that seen in the general population.
Emer Cooke, executive director of the EMA, said at a press conference that the agency continues to believe the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risk of side effects, but that there is "serious concern" which warrants a "serious and detailed" scientific consideration.
"Vaccines for Covid-19 help to protect individuals from becoming ill, especially healthcare professionals and vulnerable populations such as older people and people with chronic diseases," she said.
Results of the EMA's investigation into the Oxford University vaccine are due on Thursday.
"We are looking at adverse events associated with all vaccines," said Cooke, noting the Pfizer and Moderna jabs appeared to be linked to similar numbers of blood clots as the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The investigation comes after several European countries, including France, Italy, Spain and Germany, suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine after some recipients suffered blood clots following the jab. In Austria, one person was admitted to hospital with a pulmonary embolism and died 10 days after having the vaccine.
Last week, Austria suspended a particular batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine after the incident. However, Cooke said on Tuesday that it's unlikely any issue with the jab is batch-specific.
As at 10 March, there had been 30 reported thromboembolic events among around 5 million people vaccinated. Cooke said there were also additional cases reported over the weekend.
Overall, the EMA said the number of thromboembolic events in vaccinated people seemed to be no higher than that seen in the general population.