PRAC: Update on the safety of authorized vaccines: European Medicines Agency (EMA)

27/04/2021


• Comirnaty: On 9 April, the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC), based on information from
clinical trials and vaccination campaigns, requested the addition of the following adverse events to the product
information: skin pruritus and rash as uncommon (1 in 100 people); and hives and angioedema as rare (1 in
1,000 people).

• Vaxzevria (previously referred to as the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine): Regarding anaphylaxis and
other allergic reactions, PRAC requested that the vaccine authorization holder provide more information for
evaluation.


• With regard to thrombotic events related to the Vaxzevria vaccine, the Committee concluded that there was a
plausible causal connection between the vaccine and very rare cases of thrombosis in combination with
thrombocytopenia, sometimes accompanied by bleeding. Thrombotic events with thrombocytopenia include
venous thrombosis, which can also occur in unusual places such as veins of the cerebral venous sinus, and the
splenic venous system (involving one or more veins in the abdomen), as well as arterial thrombosis. Although
these events are very rare, cases appear to be more common than in the general population. Most of these
cases occur within 14 days after vaccination, and in women under the age of 60. Some cases have resulted in
death. Based on available data, no specific risk factors have been identified.


• PRAC agreed that the following events should be updated in the Vaxzevria product information:
thrombocytopenia as a new and common adverse event (less than 1 in 10 people), and thrombosis, in
combination with thrombocytopenia, as a new and very rare adverse event (less than 1 in 10,000 people).


• PRAC requested more information from Vaxzevria's authorization holder on five suspected cases of capillary leak
syndrome (liquid leaks from smaller vessels, with a rapid drop in blood pressure, combined with tissue swelling)
that were reported to EudraVigilance. To date, a causal association with administration of the vaccine has not
been established.


• PRAC continues to update Vaxzevria's risk management plan, in connection with the review of clinical trial data
by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), in order to determine whether limb pain,
abdominal pain, hives, and flu-like symptoms can occur as a result of this vaccine.


• Janssen: PRAC began an analysis of embolic and thrombotic events in a few serious and isolated cases of
thrombosis combined with thrombocytopenia reported after administration of this vaccine. While these events
had previously been included in the vaccine risk management plan for follow-up, the Committee requested a
review by the authorization holder and is collecting more information for analysis. No causal link has been
established between the event and the vaccine.


• The reports conclude that no changes in the use of the Comirnaty, Vaxzevria, and Janssen vaccines are
recommended, and that they are effective in preventing COVID-19. As of 9 April, following the latest update on
25 March, there was no new safety update for the Moderna vaccine.


Link: https://bit.ly/2QT8vBg

 

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