WHO rules AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine did not cause blood clot incidents

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is effective and safe to use, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said Monday.

Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, the WHO country representative for the Philippines, made the response in the aftermath of reported 40 blood clot incidents on those who were given AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Europe.

“We are happy to state that the EMA (European Medicines Agency), after careful evaluation of all data, has agreed with the WHO’s position that does not see a causal link with the AstraZeneca vaccine with thromboembolism (blood clot),” he said during the Laging Handa briefing.

The WHO official noted that the reported 40 incidents of individuals having a blood clot in Europe after being given an AstraZeneca vaccine was miniscule compared to the 50 million people worldwide, including the Philippines, who got AstraZeneca vaccine and did not experience such side effect.

“Our position is that there is no evidence that the vaccine is causing those episodes  [of people experiencing blood clot] and that this vaccine outweighs the sporadic episodes [of blood clot] reported to WHO," Abeyasinghe said.

AstraZeneca—developed by the British government and Oxford University—has an efficacy rate of 70% after the first dose based on Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluation.

This 70% efficacy rate increases after the second dose is administered after four to 12 weeks.—AOL, GMA News