Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

AstraZeneca finds no evidence of increased blood clot risk from its Covid-19 vaccine

The director of the Oxford Vaccine Group today (March 15) said there was no link between the jab it developed with AstraZeneca and blood clotting, after several countries suspended its use.

Andrew Pollard said there was "very reassuring evidence that there is no increase in a blood clot phenomenon here in the UK, where most of the doses in Europe been given so far".


"It's absolutely critical that we don't have a problem of not vaccinating people and have the balance of a huge risk, a known risk of Covid, against what appears so far from the data that we've got from the regulators - no signal of a problem," he told BBC radio.

Earlier, AstraZeneca Plc said a review of safety data of people vaccinated with its COVID-19 vaccine has shown no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots.

AstraZeneca’s review, which covered more than 17 million people vaccinated in the United Kingdom and European Union, comes after health authorities in some countries suspended the use of its vaccine over clotting issues.

“A careful review of all available safety data of more than 17 million people vaccinated in the European Union and UK with Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca has shown no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or thrombocytopenia, in any defined age group, gender, batch or in any particular country,” the company said.

Authorities in Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and the Netherlands have suspended the use of the vaccine over clotting issues, while Austria stopped using a batch of AstraZeneca shots last week while investigating a death from coagulation disorders.

“It is most regrettable that countries have stopped vaccination on such ‘precautionary’ grounds: it risks doing real harm to the goal of vaccinating enough people to slow the spread of the virus, and to end the pandemic,” Peter English, a retired British government consultant in communicable disease control, said.

European Medicines Agency has said there is no indication that the events were caused by the vaccination, a view that was echoed by the World Health Organisation on March 12.

The drugmaker said, 15 events of deep vein thrombosis and 22 events of pulmonary embolism have been reported so far, which is similar across other licensed Covid-19 vaccines.

The company said additional testing has and is being conducted by the company and the European health authorities and none of the re-tests have shown cause for concern. The monthly safety report will be made public on the EMA website in the following week, AstraZeneca said.

The AstraZeneca vaccine, developed in collaboration with Oxford University, has been authorised for use in the European Union and many countries but not yet by U.S. regulators.

The company is preparing to file for U.S. emergency use authorisation and is expecting data from its U.S. Phase III trial to be available in the coming weeks.

More For You

national prescribing service for pharmacists

Sadik Al-Hassan MP

Sadik-Al-Hassan: National pharmacy prescribing service “entirely possible”

A national prescribing service for pharmacists could in theory be developed in the next two-three years according to Sadik-Al-Hassan MP.

Speaking at an event organised by PharmaTech in parliament on Wednesday, Hassan said community pharmacists had the skillset to prescribe but a national service would be “limited” by what they are currently allowed to do.

Keep ReadingShow less
First daily pill for endometriosis to be available on NHS

Instead of travelling to clinics for injections, endometriosis patients can take a daily tablet at home

Getty Images

New endometriosis pill approved for NHS use, but only few patients will benefit

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved a new pill for the treatment of endometriosis, providing hope for thousands of women affected by the debilitating condition.

The pill, called relugolix–estradiol–norethisterone (also known as relugolix combination therapy or Ryeqo), is the first long-term daily pill approved for use in the UK to treat endometriosis, and it is expected to help about 1,000 patients every year.

Keep ReadingShow less
​RPS urges its members and fellows to vote in favour of Royal College for “a stronger, louder voice”

The Special Resolution Vote will remain open until 5 p.m. on Thursday, 24 March 2025.

Getty Images

Royal College voting begins: A historic moment in the profession’s evolution

Becoming a royal college will ensure pharmacy profession gains the recognition and authority it deserves, says RPS president Professor Claire Anderson.

Starting today (13), members and fellows of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) will begin voting on the proposed changes to its Royal Charter, marking the beginning of a historic shift toward becoming the Royal College of Pharmacy.

Keep ReadingShow less
GPs to play crucial role in transforming Wales’ health service

Jeremy Miles

(Photo credit: www.gov.wales )

Strengthening GPs’ role key to transforming healthcare - Jeremy Miles

Welsh health secretary Jeremy Miles has recognised the need to transform health services and bring healthcare closer to home.

Speaking at the recent Welsh Local Medical Committees Conference, he emphasised that strengthening the role of GPs would be crucial in improving patient healthcare and tackling NHS waiting lists.

Keep ReadingShow less