KUALA LUMPUR – Another 41 cases of blood clots have been reported in individuals who received the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, but Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reiterated that the jab’s benefits outweigh its risks for most people.
Reuters reported MHRA as saying there are a total of 209 cases of clots with low platelet counts following AstraZeneca vaccination, compared with the 168 recorded last week.
Britain and a handful of countries have recommended that only people over a certain age get the jab.
There have been 41 deaths following blood clots in Britain, MHRA was quoted as saying, an increase of nine from last week.
The country has administered 22 million first doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and four cases of clots were reported following a second dose.
Britain has advised that those under 30 years old receive an alternative coronavirus vaccine after the drug regulator found evidence of a link to rare clots with low platelet levels, and officials are considering whether to change the advice for people under 40, too.
AstraZeneca has pointed to regulator recommendations that its vaccine is safe and effective. – The Vibes, April 30, 2021