AstraZeneca and one of its key European suppliers have defended the quality of their Covid-19 vaccine production process after the EU drugs regulator said it was investigating whether there could have been manufacturing defects in specific batches.
The European Medicines Agency inquiry follows reports of possible side-effects, including blood clots, that have led to at least 16 European countries to suspend or limit use of the shot. The EMA has said it was unlikely the reported adverse events were connected to the vaccine or to specific batches but that a link could not yet be ruled out.
AstraZeneca said each batch of vaccine is subject to “more than 40 different quality control tests” between the laboratory and people’s arms.