The European Union Medicines Regulatory Agency is investigating cases of blood clots in four people who received the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, although a link between the two is not yet clear.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said Friday that serious cases of “unusual blood clots with low platelets” have been reported in four people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccination. according to Reuters
Three of the cases occurred in the US during the introduction of the vaccine, while one person enrolled in the Johnson & Johnson clinical trial died of a bleeding disorder.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)about 5 million people in the US have already received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The company said in a statement Friday that it was aware of the reports of blood clots and was working with regulators to review safety data.
“Currently, there is no clear causal relationship between these rare events and the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine,” Johnson & Johnson told Reuters.
The Hill has contacted the vaccine developer for additional information.
The reports come because there is already widespread concern about blood clots reported in individuals who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is not federally approved for emergency use in the US.
That said a safety committee of the EMA Wednesday there was a “possible link” between the AstraZeneca inoculation and rare blood clots, but added that the benefits of receiving the injection outweigh the potential risks.
That’s what the committee said unusual blood clots with low platelets should be listed as very rare side effects of the vaccine, although it did not place any new restrictions on vaccination.
However, some European countries have imposed restrictions on the distribution of the AstraZeneca vaccine, including not advising young age groups.
Most cases of blood clots have been reported in women under 60 years of age within two weeks of receiving the AstraZeneca injection.
Johnson & Johnson’s and AstraZeneca’s vaccines are two of four approved in Europe, although the rollout of Johnson & Johnson’s single dose has not yet begun across the region.