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Johnson & Johnson is approved in the EU but will not be delivered until the end of April
Photo: Matt Rourke / picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS
The EU Medicines Agency (Ema) examines cases of thrombosis after vaccination with the vaccine from the US manufacturer Johnson & Johnson.
Four cases of blood clots occurred after a vaccination, said the Ema on Friday.
One person died.
One of the suspected cases occurred during the clinical studies.
The agency emphasized that a connection with the US manufacturer's vaccine had not yet been established.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was approved in the EU in mid-March, but, unlike in the USA, is not yet in use there.
The EU Commission assumes that the active ingredient will be delivered from April 19.
A total of 55 million cans are to be delivered in the second quarter.
In contrast to the other vaccines, only one injection is required for comprehensive protection.
Last week, several countries, including Germany, advised against using the AstraZeneca vaccine in people under the age of 60.
The reason for this were isolated cases of blood clots in the cerebral veins.
On Wednesday, Ema had re-examined the cases at AstraZeneca found that there was a connection.
According to Ema, the frequency of reported incidents with blood clots in the brain is around one in 100,000.
The Ema continued to give the unreserved green light for use.
The drug authority explained that the benefits of the active ingredient should be rated higher than the risks.
Five cases of Clarkson Syndrome at AstraZeneca
The Ema is following up another safety signal and is investigating a possible connection between AstraZeneca and the so-called capillary leak syndrome.
It is about five cases of the vascular disease also known as Clarkson syndrome.
In this condition, which occurs only very rarely, the permeability of the capillary vessels is too high, so that plasma escapes and edema and a drop in blood pressure occur.
The Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines are based on the same mechanism: They are both vector vaccines that use harmless viruses as delivery vehicles.
AstraZeneca uses a human-safe chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAdOx1) as a vector.
Johnson & Johnson also uses an adenovirus, but a human one (Ad26).
It is still unclear at this point in time whether there is a risk of side effects with all vector vaccines.
Stiko boss Thomas Mertens told SPIEGEL: “Of course, Stiko is considering these and other options.
But there is no definite knowledge about this.
In this respect, we can ultimately only wait and be careful. "
kry / AFP / dpa
