AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine

Posted on March 15th, 2021

The (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) MHRA has provided the following response to Danish, Norwegian and Icelandic authorities’ action to temporarily suspend the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine.

Dr Phil Bryan, MHRA Vaccines Safety Lead said,
Vaccine safety is of paramount importance and we continually monitor the safety of vaccines to ensure that the benefits outweigh any potential risks.

It has not been confirmed that the report of a blood clot, in Denmark, was caused by the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.

The Danish, Norwegian and and Icelandic authorities’ action to temporarily suspend use of the vaccine is precautionary whilst they investigate.

We are aware of the action in Ireland.

We are closely reviewing reports but given the large number of doses administered, and the frequency at which blood clots can occur naturally, the evidence available does not suggest the vaccine is the cause.

Blood clots can occur naturally and are not uncommon. More than 11 million doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca vaccine have now been administered across the UK.

Reports of blood clots received so far are not greater than the number that would have occurred naturally in the vaccinated population.

The safety of the public will always come first. We are keeping this issue under close review but available evidence does not confirm that the vaccine is the cause.

People should still go and get their COVID-19 vaccine when asked to do so.

Further details are available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-response-to-danish-authorities-action-to-temporarily-suspend-the-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine

MHRA response to Irish authorities’ action to temporarily suspend the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)