Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine suspended in several European countries after reports of blood clots
Eight countries have fully suspended the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine over concerns of possible side effects. The list of countries are as follows;
- Norway
- Iceland
- Netherlands
- Italy
- Austria
- Denmark
- Latvia
- Luxembourg
Reasons behind the suspension of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine
Suspension of the vaccine has come into action as a precautionary move after reports of blood clots and one death. However, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the UK’s regulatory body have said that there is no indication that vaccination is linked to thromboembolic events.
Eight countries have so far fully suspended the AstraZeneca vaccinations.
Cases of clotting in vaccinated people are “no higher than the number seen in the general population”, the EMA says.
About 17 million people in the EU and the UK have received a dose of the vaccine, with fewer than 40 cases of blood clots reported as of last week, AstraZeneca said.
The EMA – which is currently carrying out a review into incidents of blood clots – said the vaccine could continue to be administered.
The UK medicines regulator also said evidence “does not suggest” the jab causes clots, as it urged people in the country to get the vaccine when asked to do so.
Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford vaccine group which developed the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, told the BBC’s Today programme there was “very reassuring evidence that there is no increase in a blood clot phenomenon here in the UK, where most of the doses in Europe [have] been given so far”.