What does the EU Medicines Agency think about Astra Zeneca's covid-19 vaccine?

Is there a clear connection to blood clots and will there be any changed recommendations? 

An answer may come at 4 pm this afternoon when the EMA authority holds a press conference on the review of the vaccine.

Participants include EMA Director Emer Cooke and Sabine Straus, chair of the PRAC Medical Safety Committee, and Peter Arlett, Head of the Department of Pharmacovigilance and Epidemiology. 

Marco Cavaleri, EMA's vaccine director, stated in an Italian newspaper interview on Tuesday that in his opinion it is already possible to establish a link between the vaccine and the blood clots that have been discovered. 

"We are trying to form a clearer picture of what is happening, in order to explain the connection with greater detail," Cavaleri said at the time.

The vaccination technique is being investigated

The EMA is also investigating whether incorrect vaccination techniques may have caused blood clots and bleeding following Astra Zeneca's covid-19 vaccine.  

When a vaccine is to be given, it is important that the drug enters the muscle directly, not the blood, so that it can be spread further into the body through slow uptake.

This is done by aspirating at the vaccination, which means pulling the plunger back into the syringe, before pushing in the medicine, to see where the needle is located.

If there is blood in the syringe, it is a sign that the needle is in a blood vessel, and not in muscle tissue.

In Sweden, the recommendation is to aspire, but different countries have different routines.

This investigation may also be presented this afternoon.

No dissuasion at present

At present, the EMA does not advise against the use of Astra Zeneca's vaccine.

Nor does the WHO do so as the benefit is considered to outweigh any risks. 

As a precautionary measure, however, several countries have chosen to temporarily stop vaccinations with the Astra vaccine.

In Sweden, the Swedish Public Health Agency once again recommends the use of Astra Zeneca's vaccine - but only to people who are 65 years and older.