Press release
Statement from Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ronan Glynn on AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Following new information received from the Norwegian Medicines Agency on Saturday evening 13 March and following discussions with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has recommended that the administration of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca be temporarily deferred from this morning, Sunday 14 March.
This recommendation has been made following a report from the Norwegian Medicines Agency of four new reports of serious blood clotting events in adults after vaccination with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca. It has not been concluded that there is any link between the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca and these cases. However, acting on the precautionary principle, and pending receipt of further information, the NIAC has recommended the temporary deferral of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca vaccination programme in Ireland.
Following new information received from the Norwegian Medicines Agency on Saturday evening 13 March and following discussions with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has recommended that the administration of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca be temporarily deferred from this morning, Sunday 14 March.
This recommendation has been made following notification from the Norwegian Medicines Agency of four new reports of serious blood clotting events in adults after vaccination with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.
It has not been concluded that there is any link between the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca and these cases. However, acting on the precautionary principle, and pending receipt of further information, the NIAC has recommended the temporary deferral of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca vaccination programme in Ireland.
If you have received your first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, you should be aware of the symptoms of concern. It is important to note, that at this point, the EMA’s guidance on the use of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca has not changed. It has not been concluded that there is any link between the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca and cases of serious blood clotting events in adults. However, acting on the precautionary principle, and pending receipt of further information, the NIAC has recommended the temporary deferral of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca vaccination programme in Ireland.
People who have received the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca and feel increasingly unwell more than three days after vaccination, and/or who notice larger or smaller blue spots in the skin (purpuric, non-blanching rash, skin haemorrhages) should consult a doctor or out-of-hours medical service immediately. These rare events that have been reported have usually occurred within 14 days of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.
You should consult a doctor or out-of-hours medical service immediately.
The COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine has been administered to frontline healthcare workers (Cohort 3) and a small number of people in Cohort 4 (those aged 16-69 with a medical condition that puts them at very high risk of severe disease and death).
Vaccine centres will continue to administer COVID-19 vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer. Use of COVID-19 AstraZeneca has been temporarily suspended.
117,000 doses of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca have been administered in Ireland to date. The COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine has been administered to frontline healthcare workers (Cohort 3) and a small number of people designated in Cohort 4.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is already investigating a number of reports of thromboembolic events following vaccination with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca. Further information is expected from the EMA in the next few days, which will include a review of these additional events. It is important to note that the EMA's position has not changed in regard to the use of AZ.