AstraZeneca jab: These are seven symptoms of blood clots you should look out for

Although most of the cases of blood clots reported have occurred in women under 60 within two weeks of vaccination with the AstraZeneca jab, no specific risk factors had been identified.

By Rahmah Ghazali

Published 7th Apr 2021, 16:45 BST

Updated 7th Apr 2021, 16:45 BST

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The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said following a review of all available evidence, its Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee said the blood clots reported had been found in veins in the brain, the abdomen and arteries, combined with low levels of blood platelets and sometimes bleeding.

The EMA said symptoms associated with the blood clots include shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling in the leg, persistent abdominal pain, severe headaches, blurred vision and tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the area where the injection wad administered, and anyone who displayed them should seek medical attention.

The committee carried out an in-depth review of 62 cases of clots in the brain and 24 cases of clots in the abdomen as of March 22, with 18 of the combines cases proving fatal.

A doctor shows an empty vial of AstraZeneca vaccine against the coronavirus (Covid-19) are seen at a drive-in for vaccinations in Schwelm, western Germany, on April 7, 2021, amid the ongoing pandemic. - Because the appointments at the vaccination centre in the Ennepe-Ruhr district are booked up for weeks, the administration reacted and set up the temporary vaccination drive-in (approx. 500 metres long, two vaccination tents, 40 employees) on the car park of a sports hall on the Easter weekend. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)

A doctor shows an empty vial of AstraZeneca vaccine against the coronavirus (Covid-19) are seen at a drive-in for vaccinations in Schwelm, western Germany, on April 7, 2021, amid the ongoing pandemic. - Because the appointments at the vaccination centre in the Ennepe-Ruhr district are booked up for weeks, the administration reacted and set up the temporary vaccination drive-in (approx. 500 metres long, two vaccination tents, 40 employees) on the car park of a sports hall on the Easter weekend. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)

They came from reporting systems in the European Economic Area and the UK, from around 25 million people who had received the vaccine.

While the UK has not paused the rollout of AstraZeneca vaccine, some countries have suspended the vaccine administration entirely or restricting it to certain groups.

For instance in Germany, the country has limited the use of the jab to people aged 60 and above, as well as high-priority groups.

This comes after its medicines regulator reported 31 cases of blood clots among the 2.7 million people who have received the shot in the arm.

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