Experts' opinions were reversed over the "blood fight" that occurred after AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccination.
(Picture form Unsplash)
When blood clots first broke out in the inoculum, some European countries decided to temporarily suspend the inoculation. Subsequently, vaccination resumed again as the EMA maintained its position that it could not prove a "causal relationship."
However, the EMA recently said it has been investigating rare cases of blood clots in AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccination since March, and confirmed the possibility of association as a result.
However, the EMA stressed that vaccination still benefits more than potential risks.
The EMA said that unusual blood clots with low platelets are a "very rare" side effect of vaccines. This was reported within two weeks of vaccination, mainly in women under the age of 60.
The Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) of the EMA examined 62 cases of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVST), a type of rare brain thrombosis, and 24 cases of spleen venous thrombosis or abdominal coagulation in relation to AstraZeneca's vaccine. Eighteen of these cases were fatal. The survey analyzed about 34 million AZ inoculations in Europe and the United Kingdom.
The EMA did not deny the overall benefits of the vaccine, stressing that the case was a very "rare blood clot."
AstraZeneca worked with regulators to update blood clots on product labels.
AstraZeneca replied, "We are trying to understand individual cases, roles, and possible mechanisms that can explain extremely rare events."
AstraZeneca's vaccine, of course, is not the only product facing blood clotting concerns.
The EMA also confirmed 35 cases of cerebral thrombosis in the Pfizer/Bio & Tech vaccine inoculated by 54 million people. In the Moderna vaccine, five out of 4 million vaccinations were reported with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVST). In addition, the J&J vaccine approved on March 11 in Europe reported three thrombotic cases with low platelets out of about 4.5 million vaccinations.
The COVID-19 vaccine was developed at an unusually rapid pace, and was urgently approved by regulators in recognition of its urgency. However, the issue of safety is constantly being mentioned.
Many experts, including the WHO, agree that vaccinations should be more active to form collective immunity.
However, anxiety about safety continues, so vaccinated and prospective people are complaining of fatigue.
The EMA's announcement did not recommend the AstraZeneca vaccine to people under the age of 30. The UK Joint Commission on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) has changed guidelines for young people aged 18 to 29 who are at low risk of COVID-19 infection and recommended the use of vaccines by AstraZeneca and other companies.
Korea's COVID-19 vaccination response team held an advisory meeting with experts in the COVID-19 vaccine field to review the link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and some specific thrombosis at the EMA.
Accordingly, it announced that it will temporarily postpone the start of COVID-19 vaccination for special education and childcare, health teachers, and nursing staff at daycare centers, which will take effect on the 8th. Those who are already vaccinated under the age of 60 will temporarily suspend vaccination.
Writer: Yeyoung Jeon
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