THERE is “no evidence” to support restricting the use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in any population, the head of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has said.

The EMA said a causal link between unusual blood clots in people who have had the vaccine is “not proven, but is possible”, adding that the benefits of the vaccine in preventing Covid-19 outweighed the risks of side effects.

It comes after it emerged Germany was suspending use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for people aged under 60 due to fears of a link with rare blood clots.

The EMA said it was meeting yesterday in the context of its ongoing review of “very rare cases of unusual blood clots associated with low numbers of platelets” in people who have also had the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The regulator said that at present the review has not identified any specific risk factors, such as age, gender or a previous medical history of clotting disorders, for these “very rare” events.

Speaking at a press briefing, EMA executive director Emer Cooke said: “According to the current scientific knowledge, there is no evidence that would support restricting the use of this vaccine in any population.”

Cooke said 62 cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) have been reviewed out of 9.2 million people in the European Economic Area (EEA).

The EMA said: “A causal link with the vaccine is not proven, but is possible and further analysis is continuing.

“As communicated on March 18, EMA is of the view that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing Covid-19, with its associated risk of hospitalisation and death, outweigh the risks of side effects.”

This view is echoed by the World Health Organisation, which has urged countries to continue using the jag. The EMA said it would provide any further updates next week.