GERMANY is the 14th country to suspend use of the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine due to blood clot fears.
Boris Johnson, UK scientists and regulators say the jab is safe and there is currently no proof it was the cause of fatal blood clots in people who had recently received it.
But Germany adds to a growing list of countries which have taken extra cautious measure while investigations are ongoing.
These are:
Netherlands
Ireland
Iceland
Denmark
Norway
Bulgaria
Luxembourg
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Austria
Italy
Thailand
The Health Ministry said the decision was taken as a precaution and on the advice of Germany’s national vaccine regulator, the Paul Ehrlich Institute.
Regulators called for further investigation of people who had suffered blood clotting in the days after their jab, according to AP.
In a statement, the ministry said the European Medicines Agency (EMA) would decide whether and how the new information will affect the authorization of the vaccine.
The EMA said on March 10 it would be investigating a spate of blood clotting cases in Europe.
But it later urged countries to continue vaccinating because the benefits of being protected against Covid outweigh any potential risk from the vaccine.
The UK medicine regulator – the MHRA – says the jab is safe and encourages Brits to accept their offer.
It comes as:
A third wave of Covid cases will hit in Autumn warns stats chief
Over-40s could be offered Covid jab before Easter
Netherlands joins AstraZeneca Covid vaccine suspension – but Oxford scientists say ‘no link’ to blood clots
Italy plunges into another lockdown and Paris evacuates Covid patients on planes
UK BACKS AZ
The MHRA issued a statement last week saying more than 11 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine had been administered across the UK with no issues.
After the Republic of Ireland’s decision to suspend use, Dr Phil Bryan, MHRA vaccines safety lead said: “We are aware of the action in Ireland.
“We are closely reviewing reports but given the large number of doses administered, and the frequency at which blood clots can occur naturally, the evidence available does not suggest the vaccine is the cause.”
He said people “should still go and get their Covid-19 vaccine when asked to do so”.
The Prime Minister was asked during a visit to Coventry for his views on the situation.
Asked directly if he could tell the public that the vaccine is safe, Boris Johnson said: “Yes, I can. In the MHRA we have one of the toughest and most experienced regulators in the world.
“They see no reason at all to discontinue the vaccination programme… for either of the vaccines that we’re currently using.
“They believe that they are highly effective in driving down not just hospitalisation but also serious disease and mortality.
“We continue to be very confident about the programme and it’s great to see it being rolled out at such speed across the UK.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said there was “no evidence” that blood clots are any more likely to occur following vaccination.
They said: “The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine remains both safe and effective, and we urge anybody asked to come forward to receive a vaccine to do so.”
Story cited here.
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