J&J vaccine under EU review over blood clots

Brussels, April 9

Europe’s drug regulator said it is reviewing reports of rare blood clots in four people who received Johnson & Johnson’s Covid vaccine and has expanded its probe into AstraZeneca’s shot to include reports of a bleeding condition.

Of the four serious cases of clotting and low platelets, three occurred in the US during the rollout of J&J’s vaccine from its Janssen unit, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Friday, adding that one person had died and that one case was reported in a clinical trial. It was the first news of EMA’s probe of the J&J vaccine, while AstraZeneca’s vaccine has been dogged for weeks over possible links to rare blood clots in the brain and abdomen, which the EMA has confirmed.

J&J said it was aware of the reports of blood clots possibly related to its vaccine and others, and is working with regulators to assess the data and provide relevant information. — Reuters

Norwegian PM fined for rule violation

Oslo: Norwegian police said on Friday they have fined PM Erna Solberg for breaking social-distancing rules when she organised a family gathering to celebrate her birthday. The fine is for 20,000 Norwegian crowns ($2,352), police chief Ole Saeverud told a news conference. On Friday, Solberg said she would pay the fine. Reuters