EU agency examines reports of blood clots with J&J Covid vaccine

EMA says four serious cases reported, one fatal, and also expands inquiry into AstraZeneca vaccine

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The EU's drug regulator is reviewing reports of rare blood clots in four people who received Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine and has expanded its inquiry 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 pharmaceuticals unit, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Friday, adding that one person had died and one case was reported in a clinical trial. It was the first news of EMA's inquiry into the J&J vaccine.