The British drug regulator said it had identified 30 cases of thrombi and unusual coagulation problems related to the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, but reiterated that the benefits “continue to outweigh any risks”.
The regulatory agency for medicines and health products stressed that the risk associated with this type of blood clot is “very low” and that the population should continue to receive the vaccine when given the opportunity.
The cases are related to the period until March 24, during which time 18.1 million doses of vaccine were administered, the regulator explained on Friday evening. He did not receive similar reports on the one developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, he added.
Concerns about the side effects of AstraZeneca have led several countries, including Canada, France, Germany and the Netherlands, to restrict its use among the elderly.
The World Health Organization has called on countries to continue using the vaccine.