The head of vaccines of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Marco Cavaleri, has intimated that it is “clear”; there is a link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and a rare form of blood clot,; but the cause is still unknown.
Speaking in an interview, Cavaleri also announced that Europe’s drug regulator would make a statement on the issue “in the coming hours”.
“In my opinion, we can say it now, it is clear there is a link with the vaccine. But we still do not know what causes this reaction.
“These platelet-deficient cerebral thromboses appear to be the main event to investigate. In the next few hours, we will say that the connection exists. But we still have to understand how this happens.”
Cavaleri also revealed that the EMA’s evaluation of the AstraZeneca vaccine was “far from over”. He noted that it was for individual countries to establish specific guidelines around which age groups get vaccines.
Asked if the risk-benefit ratio was still in favour of the vaccine, he replied “yes”. He however said, the effects on different age groups needs examination “in more detail”.
“Very meticulous work will be needed to understand if the risk-benefit ratio is in favour of the vaccine for all.”
Germany, Italy, France, Spain and the Netherlands have all recently limited the AstraZeneca vaccine to older age groups pending an EMA investigation.
Increasing evidence of risk associated AstraZeneca vaccine
Last week, Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) revealed that seven people have died from unusual blood clots after getting the AstraZeneca vaccine in the UK.
According to the agency, in total, 30 people out of 18 million vaccinated by 24 March had these clots.
As a result, reports indicate that the MHRA is also considering restricting the AstraZeneca vaccine to older age groups.
Addressing the issue, Professor Neil Ferguson of Imperial College London acknowledged that the clots raised questions over whether young people should get the jab.
“There is increasing evidence that there is a rare risk…particularly with the AstraZeneca vaccine. But it may be associated at a lower; level with other vaccines, of these unusual blood clots with low platelet counts.
“It appears that risk is age related. It also may possibly be – but the data is weaker on this – related to sex.”
WHO does not back vaccination passports
In another development, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that it doesn’t back the issuance of vaccination passports for travelling.
Speaking at a UN news briefing, WHO spokewoman, Margaret Harris explained that the organization is uncertain over whether inoculation prevents transmission of the; virus, as well as “equity concerns”.
She also revealed that the WHO now expects to review China’s Covid-19 vaccines, Sinopharm and Sinovac for possible emergency use around the end of April.
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