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British recognition of the deaths comes as several European countries have stopped the use of the AstraZeneca jab over a possible link to blood clots.
FILE: AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine vials and a syringe. Image: Joel Saget / AFP.
LONDON – The UK medical regulator said on Saturday that of 30 people who suffered blood clots after receiving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, seven have died.
British recognition of the deaths comes as several European countries have stopped the use of the AstraZeneca jab over a possible link to blood clots.
The UK Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency said in a statement that “of the 30 reports up to and including March 24, sadly 7 have died.”
The Netherlands on Friday halted vaccinations with the AstraZeneca vaccine for people under the age of 60 after five new cases among women, one of whom died.
Germany made a similar decision earlier this week.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA), which like the World Health Organization previously declared the AstraZeneca vaccine safe, is expected to announce updated advice on the subject on April 7.
The EMA said again Wednesday that it believes the vaccine is safe and that experts have not found specific risk factors such as age, gender or medical history.
The UK regulator said the 30 reports of thrombosis, submitted by doctors or members of the public through a government website, came after 18.1 million doses of the vaccine were administered in the country.
Most of the cases (22) were cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, a rare condition when a blood clot forms in the brain.
In eight other cases, people suffered from thrombosis and low levels of platelets in the blood, which help the blood to clot.
There were no reports of blood clots from the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, he said, adding that “our comprehensive review of these reports is ongoing.”
The regulator’s website says that based on current data, the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines “continue to outweigh any risks.”
AstraZeneca said last month, following efficiency trials in the US, that its vaccine is 79% effective in preventing disease and does not increase the risk of blood clots.
The UK has administered more than 31 million first doses of vaccines, using both Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech injections. People cannot choose which one to buy.
The UK in June 2020 ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and supported its development. He also ordered 30 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in the same year.
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