April 08, 2021

Andrew Campbell 

Medicines regulators of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) confirmed on April 7 a link between the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine and unusual cases of blood clots. EMA identified a particular combination of unusual blood clots with low blood platelet counts that ought to be categorized as a very rare side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

As European Union (EU) hesitates over plausible side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine, by far in the UK 79 people have reportedly suffered blood clotting after receiving the vaccine, and 19 of whom have died. UK government’s Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI) has offered an alternative COVID vaccine to healthy 18- to 29-year-olds in the UK.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson encouraged on April 7 on his Twitter and advised people of all ages to remain fully confident in vaccines. In addition, England’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, warned that under-30s could face short delays in getting inoculated. Nevertheless, he assured such recommended move has little or no impact on the rollout timeline in the COVID vaccines.

Photo : webshot.