After weeks of research, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) concluded that the unusual thrombi "should be included as a rare side effect" of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Although he stressed that "the registered combination of blood clots and low blood platelets is very rare, and the overall benefits of the vaccine in preventing covid-19 outweigh the risks of side effects."
Meanwhile, in a parallel press conference, the UK Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced that those under 30 should be offered an alternative vaccine to AstraZecena if they are available in your area.
But it was claimed that it is still investigating whether there is a causal link between these rare events and the vaccine.
The assessment by both agencies comes after a small number of cases of blood clots were recorded among recipients of this vaccine in Europe.
Thirteen countries including Germany, France, Italy and Spain suspended its use in mid-March as a precautionary measure. However, days later many of them resumed it as the European regulatory body concluded that it was safe and effective.
Research by MHRA found that at the end of March 79 people in the UK suffered rare blood clots after vaccination, 19 of whom died.
The cases were seen among 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine administered in the UK. Almost two-thirds of these cases were in women, the people who died were between 18 and 79 years old.
The British regulator said this was not proof that the vaccine caused the clots, but he added that the evidence was consolidating.
Still, Dr. June Raine, MHRA executive director, said the side effects were "extremely rare."
In addition, the British agency stated that people who have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should receive their second dose. Only those who suffered one of these rare blood clots after the first dose should not get vaccinated, she added.
Also, the clinical trial of the AstraZeneca vaccine in children was suspended.
By: María José Durán, Step 10.
