WHO to discuss AstraZeneca vaccine as more EU countries stop rollout
On Tuesday, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Latvia and Sweden became the latest European nations to suspend its use
PRETORIA, March 16 (ANA) – The World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) vaccine safety experts met on Tuesday to discuss the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, after a list of European countries stopped its rollout over blood clot concerns, CNN reported.
The US broadcaster said on Tuesday, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Latvia and Sweden were the latest nations to suspend its use.
Last week friday, encouraged the use of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine saying there was no link between the jab and developing a clot.
“There is no evidence that the incidents are caused by the vaccine and it is important that vaccination campaigns continue so that we can save lives and stem severe disease from the virus,” WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier was quoted saying by CNN.
AstraZeneca is not the only vaccine available in Europe. The EU has also authorized the BioNTech-Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
According to the Guardian UK, Denmark’s national health agency said it was suspending AstraZeneca vaccinations for two weeks because a 60-year-old woman who was given a shot from the same batch as used in Austria had formed a blood clot and subsequently died.
The publication said the agency said it had not established a link between the clots and the vaccine but has asked authorities to stop using AstraZeneca pending consultations with the national medicines regulator.
In fact, most countries that have discontinued using the vaccine have acknowledged that there is no evidence that the AstraZeneca jab has caused blood clots.
Meanwhile, in Britain where the AstraZeneca vaccine is developed, the government has defended the vaccine and said it would continue its rollout.
CNN said Belgium, Australia, Poland, Nigeria, Mexico and the Philippines have said they will continue to use the vaccine as investigations progress.
The BBC said the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will release its findings on Thursday.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Naomi Mackay