Rigorous reviews from both the UK and European independent regulators into the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine has confirmed that it does not increase the risk of people developing blood clots.

Separate reviews were carried out by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) following reports of blood clots in a small number of people who had recently had the vaccine. However, both agencies, along with the World Health Organisation, had stressed from the outset that there was no evidence to suggest the blood clots have been caused by the vaccine and that it was safe to continue using it while the reviews were carried out.

Their findings reflected those of AstraZeneca’s own review of data from more than 17 million people vaccinated in the UK and European Union. This showed that there had been 37 reports of blood clots, which is fewer than would be expected to occur naturally in this number of people. The MHRA review also looked at data for the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine and confirmed there was no link to either vaccine causing  blood clots.

Over 21 million people in England have now been vaccinated, with latest research showing that the vaccines are extremely effective at preventing serious illness and death from Covid-19.

The vaccines are the only protection available against the serious illness caused by Covid-19, which has sadly led to the death of millions of people around the world. People will continue to be at risk from the disease if they do not take up the offer of a vaccine so it is very important to have yours when you are invited.