Germany, France, Italy and Spain have announced they are suspending use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine. This, the countries say, is until EU regulators investigate reports some people developed blood clots after having the jab.
The German Health Ministry and French President, Emmanuel Macron said the measure was a “precaution”, while the European Medicines Agency (EMA) looks into the matter.
Spanish authorities also said the country’s suspension of the use of the vaccine will last at least two weeks.
The Italian Medicines Authority’s announcement followed the seizure of hundreds of thousands of doses of the vaccine by Italian prosecutors in the northern region of Piedmont, where a teacher died following his vaccination. Experts are investigating whether there is a connection between his death and the vaccination.
The countries are the latest European nations to stop administering the vaccine amid concerns over possible links to the clots. Portugal, Slovenia, Ireland and Norway have all announced they are temporarily halting vaccine distribution this week.
Suspension not political spain
German Health Minister, Jens Spahn said his country’s decision to stop using the vaccine is not political. He stressed that while the risk of blood clots is low, it cannot be ruled out.
In a statement, the German health ministry added that its decision to suspend the jab was taken on the advice of national vaccine regulator, the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI). The PEI also called for further investigation into seven reported cases of clots in the brains of vaccinated people.
Separately, President Macron said he hopes “we can resume quickly” administering the vaccine “if the EMA gives the green light”.
Last week, Denmark and Iceland suspended the use of the vaccine over reported clotting issues. Other countries temporarily halting its use include the Netherlands, Congo and Bulgaria.
“Reassuring evidence” vaccine is safe spain
In addressing the clotting reports, the Director of the Oxford vaccine group, Professor Andrew Pollard said there is “very reassuring evidence there is no increase in a blood clot phenomenon in the UK, where most of the doses in Europe have been given so far”.
AstraZeneca also issued a statement saying it has conducted a review covering more than 17 million people vaccinated in the EU and the UK. According to the pharmaceutical giants, the review has shown no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots.
Earlier, the European Medicines Agency insisted that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh potential side effects. EMA also said the number of thromboembolic events in people inoculated does not seem higher than among the general population.
“Events involving blood clots, some with unusual features such as low numbers of platelets, have occurred in a very small number of people who received the vaccine.
“Many thousands of people develop blood clots annually in the EU for different reasons. The number of thromboembolic events overall in vaccinated people seems not to be higher than that seen in the general population.”
EMA
The World Health Organization has also appealed to countries not to suspend vaccinations against a disease that has caused more than 2.7 million deaths worldwide.
“As of today, there is no evidence that the incidents are caused by the vaccine. And it’s important that vaccination campaigns continue so that we can save lives and stem severe disease from the virus.”
WHO spokesman, Christian Lindmeier.
