Experts urge Scots to continue getting AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine despite blood clot fears

There is no evidence to suggest that the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine causes blood clots, the UK’s medicines' regulator has said.

The MHRA said that it is ‘closely reviewing reports’ after Ireland moved to temporarily suspend the rollout of the jab.

Officials took the decision after reports emerged of four serious blood clotting events in adults after receiving the vaccine in Norway - but it currently remains unclear if it is linked.

The Irish Health Minister said that the suspension was a ‘precautionary step’.

More than one million Scots have received their first dose of the Oxford vaccine, according to the latest Public Health Scotland data (PA)

Public Health Scotland data shows that more than one million Scots have so far received their first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.

Experts at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) say that Scots should continue to get the AstraZeneca jab when they are asked to do so.

Dr Phil Bryan, MHRA Vaccines Safety Lead, said: “We are aware of the action in Ireland.

“We are closely reviewing reports but given the large number of doses administered, and the frequency at which blood clots can occur naturally, the evidence available does not suggest the vaccine is the cause.

“People should still go and get their Covid-19 vaccine when asked to do so.”

An urgent review on the vaccine and its alleged link to blood clotting events is underway (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Ireland joins a number of European countries to suspend the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine - Denmark, Norway and Iceland have also frozen the jab from use.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that countries should still use the vaccine, as there is currently no evidence of a link between the jab and blood clots.

Chiefs at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have initiated an urgent review of all blood clotting events occurring in adults after receiving the vaccine to determine if there is a risk.

The preliminary assessment of similar events published by the EMA on 11 March found the number of blood clotting events in vaccinated people was no higher than the number seen in the general population.

As of March 10, 30 cases of blood clotting events were reported in the EMA's database of side-effects following vaccination of close to five million people in the European Economic Area.