J&J, AstraZeneca may alter vaccines because of rare blood clots
Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca PLC and the University of Oxford are conducting early-stage research into whether potential modifications of their coronavirus vaccines could reduce or eliminate the risk of rare but serious blood clots, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The Journal, citing sources it described as close to the process, said outside scientists also are joining the effort and that emerging clues into how the clots form are boosting hopes of identifying the cause. AstraZeneca hopes to update its shot by next year, the Journal said.
It is too early to know whether the J&J shot or the AstraZeneca shot can be modified, or whether doing so would make commercial sense, the Journal wrote. AstraZeneca has said it is “actively working with the regulators and scientific community" to learn more about the rare blood-clotting events, including information on early diagnosis and treatment.