The benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 increase with age and continue to outweigh the risks. This is what the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Friday 23 April 2021 after a new study carried out for the European Commission.
New EMA study on the benefit / risk ratio of Vaxzevria vaccine
For several weeks, the Vaxzevria vaccine (new name given to the AstraZeneca vaccine) developed by the Anglo-Swedish laboratory AstraZeneca has caused concerns in several European countries about the appearance of blood clots which have led some to suspend it or limit its use. to the elderly. It is in this context that the European Commission asked the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to conduct a new study on the benefits of the vaccine against the risks.
New EMA study on the benefit / risk ratio of Vaxzevria vaccine
For several weeks, the Vaxzevria vaccine (new name given to the AstraZeneca vaccine) developed by the Anglo-Swedish laboratory AstraZeneca has caused concerns in several European countries about the appearance of blood clots which have led some to suspend it or limit its use. to the elderly. It is in this context that the European Commission asked the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to conduct a new study on the benefits of the vaccine against the risks.
The benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks in adults of all age groups
In a press release published last Friday, the European regulator revealed that the results of the study showed that ” the benefits of vaccination increase with age “. According to the EMA, rare cases of blood clots have occurred in about one in 100,000 people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine.
In detail, the risk is higher in people between 40 and 49 years old (2.1 cases in 100,000), between 20 and 29 years (1.9 cases) and between 30 and 39 years (1.8 cases) , according to the regulator’s figures. On the other hand, the risk is lower for older people: 1.1 cases in 100,000 in the 50-59 age group, one in 100,000 in 60-69 year-olds, 0.5 in 70-year-olds. -79 years and 0.4 cases in the over 80s. This is why the EMA concludes that “ the benefits of Vaxzevria outweigh the risks in adults of all age groups “. As for Peter Arlett, responsible for data analysis at the EMA, he explains that the study “ clearly shows that the favorable effects of vaccination compared to very rare cases of blood clots increase with age “.
The benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks in adults of all age groups
In a press release published last Friday, the European regulator revealed that the results of the study showed that ” the benefits of vaccination increase with age “. According to the EMA, rare cases of blood clots have occurred in about one in 100,000 people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine.
In detail, the risk is higher in people between 40 and 49 years old (2.1 cases in 100,000), between 20 and 29 years (1.9 cases) and between 30 and 39 years (1.8 cases) , according to the regulator’s figures. On the other hand, the risk is lower for older people: 1.1 cases in 100,000 in the 50-59 age group, one in 100,000 in 60-69 year-olds, 0.5 in 70-year-olds. -79 years and 0.4 cases in the over 80s. This is why the EMA concludes that “ the benefits of Vaxzevria outweigh the risks in adults of all age groups “. As for Peter Arlett, responsible for data analysis at the EMA, he explains that the study “ clearly shows that the favorable effects of vaccination compared to very rare cases of blood clots increase with age “.
Blood clots listed as ‘very rare’ side effect
In total, 287 cases of thrombosis including 142 in the European Economic Area (EU, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) have been recorded worldwide for the AstraZeneca vaccine. While most of the cases seen with the Vaxzevria vaccine are in women under the age of 60, the European Medicines Agency said there was ” not enough data available across the EU To assert that the risks are linked to sex.
As for the other vaccines, there are 25 cases of blood clots for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, 8 for that of Johnson & Johnson and 5 for the vaccine of Moderna, according to figures from the EMA released last Tuesday. The EMA recently announced that blood clots should be listed as a side effect ” very rare »AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines against Covid-19.
Blood clots listed as ‘very rare’ side effect
In total, 287 cases of thrombosis including 142 in the European Economic Area (EU, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) have been recorded worldwide for the AstraZeneca vaccine. While most of the cases seen with the Vaxzevria vaccine are in women under the age of 60, the European Medicines Agency said there was ” not enough data available across the EU To assert that the risks are linked to sex.
As for the other vaccines, there are 25 cases of blood clots for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, 8 for that of Johnson & Johnson and 5 for the vaccine of Moderna, according to figures from the EMA released last Tuesday. The EMA recently announced that blood clots should be listed as a side effect ” very rare »AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines against Covid-19.
