The risk-benefit ratio remains largely positive, but the link of the AstraZeneca vaccine with rare forms of thrombosis. To give the verdict, reassuring but not fully, is the EMA, the European Medicines Agency, called once again to express an assessment on the most discussed anti-Covid vaccine, the one produced by the Anglo-Swedish company. AstraZeneca's is now becoming a saga: the serum has been questioned several times in recent months, with several European countries having stopped its administration for a few days, waiting for the go-ahead that the EMA has reiterated no less than two weeks ago. The emergence of new cases, albeit very rare, has led the European institution to carry out further investigations, even if for now did not place restrictions on administration, leaving the decision to the individual countries if anything: "Coagulation events - said Sabine Strauss of the EMA safety commission at a press conference - are really very rare".
“Speaking of the currently available data, it is not possible to pinpoint a single cause for these complications. These are individual responses but not generalized risks, which is why we did not consider it necessary to impose restrictive measures on the use of the vaccine. However, there will be further studies and research and even AstraZeneca itself will do in-depth studies at the precise request of the EMA ”, added Strauss. "However, it is important that people are aware of the risks that may emerge in the first two weeks after the inoculation of the vaccine, to be linked to the low levels of platelets in the blood of the vaccinated", said the EMA which then listed the list of symptoms that could be signs of a possible complication: difficulty breathing, chest pains, swelling in the legs, persistent abdominal pain, neurological symptoms (blurred vision, persistent headache), small spots of blood under the skin at the point of 'injection.
In the 86 cases of thrombosis examined by the EMA on citizens from all over the European Union (only 18 of which were lethal), it was verified that the predominant risk is among women in the under 60 age group. That's why on the eve everything suggested that a limitation could come for females under that age, but the EMA ruled out this choice, reiterating that "AstraZeneca's vaccine is safe. Thrombotic events are very rare and the benefits outweigh the risks”.
