JOIN US AT A FREE LIVE EVENT THURSDAY: We’ll answer your questions on the risks of J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine and blood clots

• Insider is hosting a live event on the risk of rare but serious blood clots for people who receive the AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccines.
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Coronavirus vaccines are the world’s best hope for ending the pandemic.

But two of the shots are now under scrutiny, after a small number of reports linking them to rare, yet extremely serious, blood clots.

In the US, health regulators have called for a pause in vaccinations with Johnson & Johnson’s shot so they can evaluate reports of blood clots. Some countries have halted immunizations with AstraZeneca’s vaccine, or restricted it to more limited groups of people, after European Union health officials said it can cause a rare type of blood clot.

In both cases, the blood clots affect very small numbers of people. Regulators are trying to balance the potential risks of the shots against their overwhelming benefits in fighting the pandemic, which has already killed almost 3 million people around the world.

There are other shots available from Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and more. But supplies are limited, meaning that a decision to stop using the AstraZeneca or J&J shots could delay the global immunization campaign.

To understand the risks and benefits of these vaccines, join us on Thursday, April 15, at 11am ET/ 8am PT for a live discussion hosted by Insider Healthcare Editor Zachary Tracer with reporters Aria Bendix and Dr. Catherine Schuster-Bruce.

Register for the event here