EMA Confirms AstraZeneca Clot Link But Says Jab Still Safe
Umer Jamshaid Published April 07, 2021 | 11:10 PM
The Hague, April 7 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Apr, 2021 ) :The EU's drug regulator said Wednesday that blood clots should be listed as a "very rare" side effect of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine but that the jab's benefits continue to outweigh the risks.
No specific risk factors, including age, have been identified for thrombosis with the AstraZeneca shot, which could stem from an immune response, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said.
But the watchdog faced questions about its findings as several European countries have discouraged the use of the vaccine in younger people due to the clots, while Britain said Wednesday it would do the same.
"EMA's safety committee has concluded today that unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effects" of the AstraZeneca jab, the Amsterdam-based regulator said in a statement.
EMA chief Emer Cooke stressed that people should continue to take the vaccine as part of the battle against the disease.
"The safety committee has confirmed that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing Covid-19 overall outweigh the risk of side effects," Cooke told a virtual news conference.
"It is saving lives." EU health ministers are to meet later Wednesday to discuss the regulator's findings.
European countries have reported dozens of cases of people with clots in blood vessels draining from the brain after receiving jabs, some of them fatal.
Despite the fact that many of the cases have been reported in women under 55, the regulator said it had not been able to pinpoint those at risk.
"The evidence we had did not allow us to draw any causal link between the different gender or age groups," Cooke said.
"A plausible explanation for these rare side effects is an immune response to the vaccine." The EMA studied 86 blood clotting cases, 18 of which were fatal, out of around 25 million people in Europe and Britain who received the AstraZeneca vaccine. Most of the cases were in women aged under 60.
The condition was similar to one seen in some people given the blood-thinner Heparin, Cooke said.
Blood clots had also been seen in other vaccines at very low levels, without any confirmed link, the EMA said.
Three cases had been seen worldwide with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which uses similar adenovirus technology to the AstraZeneca shot, EMA safety chief Peter Arlett said.
"The numbers are extremely small compared to the 4.5 million vaccines received worldwide. This is however under close scrutiny," Arlett said, referring to the number of Johnson & Johnson shots administered globally.
There had been 35 cases worldwide with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and five cases with the Moderna shot, EMA officials said, without providing global data for the number of shots administered.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Bugti assures transporters for addressing their problems
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets foreign min ..
3 drug peddlers arrested, hashish recovered
1496,990 children given polio drops in five days: DC
Six terrorists killed, hideout busted in N Waziristan IBO: ISPR
Pakistan, Qatar agree to further expand trade, investment ties
Sindh cabinet approves Rs177.5m to strengthen, mobilize various wings of police
Faisal Karim Kundi takes oath as new KP Governor
Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Chaudhry seeks more vibrant ..
Tahaffuz Manzil Foster Home providing care & support to homeless children
PCB proposes April 7 -May 20 window; tweaks in rules for HBL PSL 2025
Field hospitals now operational across Punjab: Azma Bukhari
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
American band promotes intercultural harmony thru music fusions
13 hours ago -
Waste Management – A persistent challenge for MWMC
2 days ago -
Experts for ending child labour
4 days ago -
Labour Day - A reminder for better facilities to workers
4 days ago -
Stage Drama Mohabati Manhoon presents in Arts council Larkana
6 days ago -
Wheat farmers in a fix on price, procurement mechanism
7 days ago
-
Modern tools to help transform crime investigation procedures
7 days ago -
Sanam Marvi captivates audience with mesmerizing performance
7 days ago -
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
9 days ago -
Kite Flying: From cultural festival to deadly sport
9 days ago -
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
11 days ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
13 days ago