The European Medicines Agency concluded its review of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine, finding that the vaccine is not associated with an increase in the overall risk of blood clots. The agency noted that while the vaccine may be associated with “very rare” cases of blood clots in patients with low blood platelets (i.e. “thrombocytopenia”), the benefits of the vaccine “still outweigh the risks.”
More context: Several countries temporarily suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine due to concerns over blood clotting. Germany, France, Italy, and Spain now plan to resume distribution of the vaccine.
Extra: Meanwhile, the US reportedly plans to send 4M AstraZeneca doses to Canada and Mexico as part of a vaccine loan agreement.
The New Paper
This story is from the March 19, 2021 edition of The New Paper – a clear, concise daily briefing that makes fact-first news easy to consume. Try it today.
