EMA: Blood clots very rare side effect of AstraZeneca vaccine

The formation of unusual blood clots should be perceived only as a "very rare side effect" of the AstraZeneca vaccine against coronavirus and its health benefits still outweigh the risks, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) concluded on Wednesday. The State Institute for Supervision of Medicines (ŠÚKL) has already informed the Health Ministry about the EMA's stance with an eye towards opening a discussion about the vaccination strategy in Slovakia. On Wednesday evening, Slovak Health Minister Vladimir Lengvarský (an OĽaNO nominee) took part in an extraordinary video conference of EU health ministers to discuss the AstraZeneca vaccine and its issue with blood clots. Slovakia has been using the AstraZeneca vaccine since March 1, administering it to teachers and educators among the first recipients.