Dr. Brenda Corcoran:

The issue in Europe was examined by the European Medicines Agency, EMA, as to whether there was any link between the vaccine going into a vein, as the Deputy has suggested, and the possibility of these very rare clotting events. All the evidence from the EMA and our colleagues in the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, is that there has been no association with this. As outlined by Dr. Jessop from the national immunisation office, if the vaccine is given correctly into the muscle, there is no need to aspirate, that is, take back the needle to see if there is any blood coming out. That is not what is recommended by NIAC because if one gives the vaccine into the correct site it is not necessary to do that. There is no evidence, even if that was done, that it links in any way with these rare events.