AstraZeneca vaccine’s benefits outweigh risks, says EMA, as probe launched into blood clotting cases
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Thursday that it is aware that Denmark has paused the administering of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines. This step was taken as a precaution while a full investigation is ongoing into reports of blood clots in people who received the vaccine, including one case in Denmark where the person died.
Some other European countries have also paused the use of this vaccine.
"There is currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions, which are not listed as side effects with this vaccine," said the agency. "The position of EMA’s safety committee PRAC [Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee] is that the vaccine’s benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while an investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing. PRAC is already reviewing all cases of thromboembolic events, and other conditions related to blood clots reported post-vaccination with AstraZeneca vaccine."
EMA also added that the number of thromboembolic events in vaccinated people is no higher than the number seen in the general population. As of Wednesday, 30 cases of thromboembolic events had been reported among close to 5 million people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe.
EMA said it will provide updates as the assessment progresses.