EMA deems AstraZeneca vaccine safe after thrombosis reports

The Hague, Mar 18 (efe-epa).- The European Medicines Agency (EMA) Thursday announced that AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective, following a review of possible blood clot risks.

Small numbers of thrombosis reports in some European countries prompted governments around the world to stop using the AstraZeneca jab, which slowed down already sluggish vaccination campaigns in the European Union.

EMA chief Emer Cooke said that the committee has come to a “clear scientific conclusion” that the vaccine’s benefits in protecting people from the virus outweigh the risks of side effects.

“The vaccine is not associated with an increase in the overall risk of blood clots (thromboembolic events) in those who receive it,” an EMA statement said.

However, the EMA will continue investigating very rare cases of blood clots. “A causal link with the vaccine is not proven, but is possible and deserves further analysis,” the statement said. EFE-EPA

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