The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced, lastThursday, that there is no indication the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is linked to an increased risk of blood clots. "There is currently no indication that vaccine has caused these conditions, which are not listed as side effects," the EMA said in a statement. The announcement follows in the wake of several European countries suspending the use of the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine, due to fears that it caused blood clots. The move comes after severe reactions and deaths, believed to be related to the vaccine jointly developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, were reported. Denmark, Iceland, and Norway have all suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, whilst Italy banned the vaccine's use as a precaution after two men died in Sicily shortly after they receivedthe vaccine. Another five European countries, namely Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Austria, announced the suspension of certain doses of the vaccine. The Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) said that the decision of suspension is "preventive". AIFA took the action after a 43-year-old Navy Officer died from a suspected heart attack a day after he received the vaccination. Another Italian national, identified as a 50-year-old, reportedly died 12 days after receiving the vaccine. Dr Ahmed Salman, a senior Immunologist and Vaccinologist at the University of Oxford and a participant in developing the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine, stressed that all scientific data available so far confirms there is no relationship between the vaccine and any severe reactions. This evidence is based on data collected during studies and information on the ground from millions of people who have received the vaccine. In statements on his Facebook account, Salman added that in the EU, 30 cases of blood clots have been reported out of nearly 5 million people who had been given the vaccine at various intervals. He noted that this is the natural rate of clots occurrence in such a large trance of the general population under normal circumstances.
