Europe’s drug regulator has restated that the benefits of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the possible risks.

The renewed support came after several countries in the European Union and globally restricted the use of the vaccine. Denmark has completely stopped its use, after confirmation of possible links to clots in association with low platelet levels. The interim analysis by a committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) determined that serious side effects of rare blood clots likely occur in 1 in 100,000 vaccinated individuals, stated the regulator. EMA officials stated in a briefing that the update aimed to put into context the data that has been collected and analyzed to assist 27 EU member states as certain how to use the vaccine depending on their local situations… (Reuters, April 23, 2021)