EU's drug regulator backs AstraZeneca vaccine after safety investigation

[Paphos Life]

The EU's drug watchdog said on Thursday it is still convinced the benefits of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the risks following an investigation into reports of blood disorders that prompted more than a dozen nations to suspend its use....

Read the article and chat about it below...

[jeba]

The university of Greifswald managed to detect the mechanism underlying the thrombosis problem which occurred in rare cases after administration of the AZ vaccine: in all patients they found antibodies which are activating platelets to kick coagulation in action. They also suggested a screening test as well as a therapy for it (infusion of other immunoglobulins).
Source (in German): https://www.medizin.uni-greifswald.de/f ... zoom_0.mp4

[memory man]

New shock over controversial Astrazeneca vaccine


Astrazeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine has come again under fire following a statement by an official for the European Medicines Agency that there is a link between the jab and very rare blood clots. And that the causes are still unknown.

Even though the World Health Organization re-assured on Tuesday that it expects there will be no reason to change its assessment that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh any risks seem not to contain rising concern worldwide.

The new controversy comes at a time when the vaccination programme of several member states, including Cyprus, depends to a large extent on Astrazeneca quantities.

Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Services Elena Panayiotopoulou told Philenews that Cyprus does not intend to withdraw Astrazeneca for the time being.

But she did leave open the possibility of new specific recommendations to be issued by the European Medicines Agency. For example, some EU countries have already banned the vaccination of younger people with Astrazeneca.

Christos Petrou who is a member of the coronavirus scientific team advising the government said they are anticipating “immediate clear and scientifically substantiated decisions to be announced on this issue.

“Because it causes fear and anxiety amongst people and slows down the vaccination programme.”

https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/new-sho ... a-vaccine/

[Dominic]

I'll take it if it is offered!

[WHL]

Me and my wife have had it, as have millions of others.

[Yioula]

90% of my friends in the U.K. have received AstraZeneca ages ranging from 50s - 80s and are all fine even those luckily enough yo have had a second jab as somebody pointed out 1 in 1000 women have blood clots from taking the pill

[Beechwood]

I’ve had it and will be going back for 2nd dose next month

[Diocletian]

The upshot being, that it will be added to the little notes under the heading "very rare side effect" and it will continue to be monitored.

[jeba]

The best vaccine is the one you can have. Which will be the AZ one in my case on Friday (even though I'd prefer the Biontech one).

[Kili01]

I had the Astra Zennica jab, it was OK for me though it had some side effects, chiefly flu like symptoms for first 36 hrs. I would have preferred Pfizer had it been available.

Still, I hope that my reaction to it meant that I would develop anti bodies to the virus.

Dee

[PolemIan]

The EMA have found a combined total of 224 cases of CVST and SVT out of approx 34million doses, so that’s 0.000006%, or looking at it the other way 99.999994% of people did not suffer these side effects. If someone offered me a lottery ticket with a guarantee of that level of winning the jackpot, I think I’d take it.

Hopefully the scientists will come up with a specific screening process to identify those at risk.

In my book those stats mean case closed and the phrase “benefits outweigh the risks” springs to mind. Being a bit selfish, if those odds are enough to stop people taking this, or any other vaccine, then I get further up the queue more quickly.

Ian