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EMA for Johnson & Johnson Vaccine: Possible link to blood clot, but benefits outweigh risks

EMA for Johnson & Johnson Vaccine: Possible link to blood clot, but benefits

There is a possible link between the vaccine with a single dose of Johnson & Johnson and very rare cases of blood clots. This is the conclusion from the European Medicines Agency announced in today's statement. However the EMA notes that the benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh the risks.

The EMA safety committee said serious blood clots should be listed as very rare vaccine side effects.

The EU drug regulator reviewed eight reports from the United States of serious cases of blood clots associated with low blood platelet levels, one of which was fatal to a patient who had been vaccinated.

More than seven million people in the US have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the suspension of vaccination last week over blood clotting reports.

All rare cases of blood clots have occurred in persons under 60 years of age; most of them women.

The cases were similar to those related to the AstraZeneca vaccine, states the EMA. Both vaccines were created using an adenovirus vector.

"The reported combination of blood clotting and low blood platelets is very rare and the overall benefits of the COVID-19 Janssen vaccine (Johnson & Johnson) in preventing COVID-19 outweigh the risks of side effects."

Health workers and those who have received the vaccine should be aware of the possible symptoms of these rare blood clots. They include shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling in the legs, abdominal pain, headache, blurred vision or small blood stains under the skin.

* Tiranapost.al.