German Expert: "AZ Blood Clot Side Effect, 20 Times Higher Risk in Women Under 60"

Estonia and Belgium Also Suspend Vaccinations for Younger Age Groups

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] It has been claimed that the likelihood of blood clot side effects from the AstraZeneca vaccine in women under 60 is 20 times higher than the natural occurrence rate. As the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is currently analyzing the causal relationship between the Astra vaccine and blood clot side effects, there is speculation that the controversy over Astra vaccine side effects may further escalate.

According to major foreign media on the 7th (local time), Christian Bogdan, a director of the German Vaccine Committee, stated, "The probability of blood clot side effects occurring in women under 60 who received the Astra vaccine appears to be up to 20 times higher than the probability of blood clots occurring in everyday life."

He explained, "We compared the probability of blood clots occurring in everyday life with cases of blood clot side effects after Astra vaccine administration," presenting this analysis result.

On the same day, the German Vaccine Committee said at a press conference, "Additional analysis is needed to understand the causal relationship between the Astra vaccine and blood clot side effects," adding, "Currently, the most plausible hypothesis for the cause of blood clots is that the Astra vaccine forms abnormal antibodies that create blood clots."

Previously, the EMA and UK health authorities acknowledged the possibility of a causal relationship between the Astra vaccine and blood clot side effects and are analyzing the blood clot death cases reported so far. According to the EMA, a total of 169 cases of blood clot side effects have been reported to date, which is an extremely small number among the 340 million total vaccine recipients, indicating that the likelihood of blood clot side effects is very low.

However, due to concerns over blood clot side effects from the Astra vaccine, measures such as suspending vaccinations or restricting vaccination targets are continuing, so the controversy over side effects is unlikely to subside easily. On the same day, Estonia announced it would suspend Astra vaccine administration for those under 60 due to blood clot concerns, and Belgium also announced the suspension of Astra vaccine administration for those under 56. Additionally, Italian health authorities recommended not vaccinating those under 60.

Earlier, Norway and Denmark temporarily suspended Astra vaccine administration for three weeks after the first blood clot side effect cases were reported in Europe last month and extended the suspension by another three weeks. These countries plan to decide on resuming vaccinations based on the analysis results of Astra vaccine side effects. France recommended vaccination only for those aged 55 and older, Canada suspended vaccinations for those under 56, and the Netherlands and Germany suspended Astra vaccine administration for those under 60.

Meanwhile, amid ongoing blood clot side effect controversies, AstraZeneca announced on the 7th that it plans to include information about the possibility of blood clot side effects in its vaccine documentation. AstraZeneca stated in a press release, "Blood clots are a very rare side effect that may occur," and added, "We are currently consulting with regulatory authorities to include blood clot side effects in the product information."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.