AMSTERDAM, March 18 (Reuters) - The EU's drug watchdog said on
Thursday it is still convinced the benefits of AstraZeneca's
COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the risks following an
investigation into reports of blood disorders that prompted more
than a dozen nations to suspend its use.
Following are reactions after the European Medicines Agency
(EMA) gave an update on its views on the vaccine.
ANTONELLA VIOLA, PROFESSOR OF IMMUNOLOGY AT ITALY'S
UNIVERSITY OF PADUA
"EMA reiterates that the benefits outweigh the risks ...
very few cases of thrombosis and in line with what would be
expected anyway from the non-vaccinated population. However,
they do not exclude the possibility of a link between the
vaccine and these rare episodes ... and therefore
pharmacovigilance will continue.
"So what we have to do is this: we must reassure everyone,
these events are extremely rare and the vaccine continues to
show a very high level of safety."
JACQUES BATTISTONI, HEAD OF FRENCH DOCTORS' UNION MG
"We are delighted with the EMA's announcement which paves the
way for a restart of vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine in
France. General practitioners will be able to do so as soon as
Friday if the French government authorizes us to do so."
(Reporting by Emilio Parodi and Matthias Blamont)