Europe medicines watchdog to update on AstraZeneca vaccine safety April 7 or 8

The European medicines watchdog expects to hold a press conference this week updating the public on its review of rare blood clotting cases in people who have received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

In an emailed response to questions, a spokeswoman for the European Medicines Agency said its pharmaceuticals risk assessment committee has not reached a conclusion in its current review of the vaccine's safety, and it expects to hold a press briefing "as soon as the review is finalized," either on April 7 or April 8.