Rare blood clots should be listed as possible side-effects of AstraZeneca vaccine: EMA | FULL

The European Medicines Agency on Wednesday announced the results of its investigation into the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine amid reports of possible blood clots following inoculation, saying that the unusual blood clots should be listed as "possible side-effects" of the vaccine, but refrained from adding any new restrictions to the vaccination including on age.

Executive director Emer Cooke said that specific risk factors based on age, gender or previous history of blood clotting disorders were unable to be confirmed as cases had been seen in all ages and gender. However, most cases reported have occurred in women under 60 within two weeks of vaccination.

"A plausible explanation for these rare side-events is an immune response to the vaccine, leading to a condition similar to one seen sometimes in patients treated with Heparin. It's called heparin induced thrombocytopenia," Cooke said.

Sabine Straus, the chair of the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) said it was of great importance that health-care professionals and people coming for vaccinations, as well as those who have been vaccinated, are aware of the potential rare risks associated with the vaccine and to look out for signs and symptoms that usually appear in the two weeks after vaccination.

Asked about concerns among younger women under 60, given the prevalence of reported cases in that age and gender group, Straus said COVID-19 is a very serious disease and the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been "established" and they outweigh the risk, with Cooke adding they need to use the vaccines available in order to beat the pandemic.

MORE: https://globalnews.ca/news/7742716/astrazeneca-ema-vaccine-blood-clots-investigation/
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