BRIEF-EMA Finds Possible Link Between Astrazeneca's Vaccine To Very Rare Cases Of Blood Clots

European Medicines Agency: * ASTRAZENECA’S COVID-19 VACCINE: EMA FINDS POSSIBLE LINK TO VERY RARE CASES OF UNUSUAL BLOOD CLOTS WITH LOW BLOOD PLATELETS

* EMA SAYS IN REACHING CONCLUSION, COMMITTEE TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION ALL CURRENTLY AVAILABLE EVIDENCE, INCLUDING THE ADVICE FROM AN AD HOC EXPERT GROUP * EMA SAYS CONCLUDED TODAY THAT UNUSUAL BLOOD CLOTS WITH LOW BLOOD PLATELETS SHOULD BE LISTED AS VERY RARE SIDE EFFECTS OF VAXZEVRIA

* EMA SAYS PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED VACCINE SHOULD SEEK MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IMMEDIATELY IF DEVELOP SYMPTOMS OF COMBINATION OF BLOOD CLOTS, LOW BLOOD PLATELETS * EMA - PRAC NOTED THAT BLOOD CLOTS OCCURRED IN VEINS IN BRAIN AND THE ABDOMEN (SPLANCHNIC VEIN THROMBOSIS) AND IN ARTERIES

* EMA - PRAC HAS REQUESTED NEW STUDIES AND AMENDMENTS TO ONGOING ONES TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION AND WILL TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTIONS NECESSARY. * EMA-ONE PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR COMBINATION OF BLOOD CLOT, LOW BLOOD PLATELETS IS IMMUNE RESPONSE, LEADING TO CONDITION SIMILAR TO ONE SEEN SOMETIMES IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH HEPARIN

* EMA-USE OF VACCINE DURING VACCINATION CAMPAIGNS AT NATIONAL LEVEL TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PANDEMIC SITUATION, VACCINE AVAILABILITY IN INDIVIDUAL MEMBER STATE Source text: (https://bit.ly/2OvEoPq) Further company coverage: