EMA finds AstraZeneca vaccine has no specific risks linked to age or gender

EMA’s safety committee has concluded today (7 April) that unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effects of Vaxzevria - AstraZeneca vaccine.

The European Medicines Executive Director, Emer Cooke, said: "The safey committee, after an in-depth analysis, has concluded that the reported cases of unusual blood clots following vaccination with AstraZeneca vaccine should be listed as possible side effects of the vaccine.” In reaching its conclusion, the committee took into consideration all currently available evidence. However, Cooke was at pains to underline that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing Covid far outweigh the risks of side effects.

The safety Committee (PRAC) have concluded, based on current evidence, that there are no specific risk factors, such as age, gender, or previous medical history of clotting disorders linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. However, the agency encouraged people to continue to come forward and to report any symptoms that they believe may be linked to their vaccination. 

At the same time as EMA reported its findings, the UK’s regulator reported that it would be recommending a different vaccine for under 30s - a group that is not yet broadly eligible for vaccination. Based on the 20.2 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine the UK has administered, it estimates that the overall risk of blood clots is approximately 4 people in a million who receive the vaccine.

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