EMA investigating whether concerns over the AstraZeneca covid vaccine relate to specific batches

Europe's health regulator insists the benefit of the jab outweighs the risk.

The EMA is reviewing data relating to blood clotting issues and says 'at present' there is no indication they are caused by vaccination.

It's led to a number of countries including Ireland to suspend the use of the Astra Zeneca vaccine temporarily.

Executive Director of the EMA , Emer Cooke says the organisation is reviewing all data ahead of an update on Thursday: "We have actually mobilised our biological working warty to look carefully into the possibility or plausibility of any events, linked to specific batches or in fact any differences in manufacturing in any way that might lead to some disparities across batches. So that's part of the investigation. "