EMA says the AstraZeneca vaccine is a safe and effective option

It follows a meeting of Europe's health regulator to review the data on blood clots developed by a small number of people in Europe after they were vaccinated.

The use of the jab was suspended in a number of countries, including Ireland as a result. 

The EMA could not definitively rule out a link with particular blood clotting and will start an awareness campaign.

However the Executive Director of the EMA, Emer Cooke, reiterated the organisation's view that the benefits of the jab outweigh the risks of side effects:
"This is a safe and effective vaccine, its benefits in protecting people from COVID-19 with the associated risks of death and hospitalisation outweigh the possible risks. The committee also concluded that the vaccine is not associated with an increase in the overall risk of thrombo embolic events or blood clots. "