The Medical Products Agency was asked about Astravaccin: "Incredibly great benefit"

On Wednesday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) ruled that blood clots are a possible side effect of Astra Zeneca's covid vaccine.

The Swedish Medicines Agency later went out and supported the EMA's assessment that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks.

- It is important to remember that the benefit of this vaccine is extremely great in all age groups, said Veronica Arthurson, unit manager at the Medical Products Agency, when she was asked in Aktuellt.

The risk of developing blood clots after vaccination is estimated by the EMA to be a maximum of one in 10,000.

- But it is probably significantly fewer, so it is a very unusual side effect, said Veronica Arthursson.

Not given to younger people

The Swedish Public Health Agency, which decides who should be offered the vaccine, currently stands by the recommendation that it should only be given to people over 65. This is because the majority of those affected by side effects have been under 60, and that the elderly become more seriously ill. and covid-19.

The Medical Products Agency, for its part, makes the same assessment as the EMA - that everyone over the age of 18 can receive the vaccine.

- What you have to start by concluding is that EMA has not come out with any clear risk factors.

What is seen is that the majority of the cases reported are women under the age of 60, but it has not been established, or anything else, as clear risk factors.

Veronica Arthurson was also asked if it is not serious that there is a risk of further deaths linked to side effects.

- Absolutely it is serious, but it must be put in relation to how many people would be affected by covid-19 and possibly die if they had not received this vaccine.