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The UK confirmed that seven people had died from rare blood clots after receiving The Covid-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca Plc and Australia are also investigating a case of clotting, raising questions about the safety of the widely used coronavirus vaccine.
Medications and Health care The Commodity Regulatory Agency said on Saturday that of 30 cases of clotting and low blood platelets identified in people in the UK who had received the injection as of March 24, seven had died. More than 18 million doses have been administered in the country and the regulator insists the injection is safe.
“The benefits of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in preventing Covid-19 infection and its complications continue to outweigh any risks and the public should continue to receive their vaccine when invited to do so,” said June Raine, CEO of MHRA, on Saturday in an emailed statement.
Australia said on Saturday it was cooperating with regulators in the UK and the European Union after identifying a case of blood clotting on April 2 in someone who had received the AstraZeneca injection.
The latest revelation will likely add to growing concern about the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is the backbone of the UK’s successful inoculation campaign. Many countries around the world relied on AstraZeneca to boost their immunization programs and now some are reconsidering it despite rising levels of Covid cases.
Holland on Friday joined Germany suspended the use of the vaccine in people under 60 years of age. Norway and Denmark extended suspensions on the use of the vaccine, which has also been the subject of a dispute over supplies between the EU, the UK and others.
South Africa Friday concluded the sale of 1 million injections to other countries after discovering that they had little impact on a variant first identified in the country last year.
AstraZeneca Plc Covid-19 Vaccine Vials.
Photographer: Hollie Adams / Bloomberg
The UK continues to advance its vaccine program, which has given a first injection to more than 60% of all adults. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to offer a first injection to all adults by the end of July, and the Astra vaccine is critical to achieving that goal.
Blood Clots, Anaphylaxis, and Other Vaccine Fears: QuickTake
With the new reports of the clotting condition, the incident rate after injection of AstraZeneca in the UK is approximately 1 in 600,000. There were no reports of the same reactions to the vaccine Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE, which is also used in Great Britain.
Earlier this week, the EU drug regulator said a link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and a rare type of blood clot is possible, identifying at least 62 cases of the condition. The European Medicines Agency said its safety committee will likely issue an updated recommendation next week.
Although more research is needed to examine possible links, “the key to remember is how rare these brain clots are and how powerful the proven benefit of the Covid vaccine is,” said David Werring, professor of clinical neurology at the University Institute. College London. of Neurology.