WHO & EU drug regulator say AstraZeneca vaccine is safe; Italy, Germany, France hit pause

After reports of serious blood clotting, a host of European countries halted their rollouts of AstraZeneca jabs on Monday. The World Health Organization and Europe's medicines watchdog, on the other hand, insisted it was safe to use. The organisations will reportedly hold special meetings this week after a host of countries over the matter.

On Monday, Germany, Italy and France paused rollouts of the AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine; they were later joined by Spain, Portugal, Slovenia and Latvia.

Italy’s medicines regulator on March 15 announced a precautionary, temporary ban on using AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine. According to PTI, Italian medicines agency AIFA said that the decision was taken in line with similar measures adopted by other European countries. The agency added that further looking into the matter is currently underway.

Danish, Norwegian and Icelandic officials have also taken similar precautionary steps. Not just European countries, Indonesia also announced a delay to its rollout of the jab.

AstraZeneca, however, has defended its coronavirus vaccine, saying that its analysis not only showed “no evidence of an increased risk” of blood clots in vaccine recipients but a lower number than in the general population. In a statement, AstraZeneca insisted that its vaccine was safe and added that the company’s safety data showed zero evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis in any defined age group, gender, batch or any in a particular country from the jab. 

WHO, EMA backs AstraZeneca 

AstraZeneca has been embroiled in controversy in Europe, with some governments initially even refusing to certify use for people aged over 65 despite scientific advice finding no reason for limits. Italy and Austria have also banned the use of shots from separate batches, while Bulgaria and Thailand have said that they would delay its rollout. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health had said in a separate statement that it decided to “pause” AstraZeneca vaccinations following the report of a death in Denmark as a result of a blood clot. 

The EMA, on the other hand, has clarified that there was “currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions, which are not listed as side effects with this vaccine...The vaccine's benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while an investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing”. The World Health Organization (WHO) also said that there was no reason as of now for nations to suspend the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine. UN health agency spokesperson Margaret Harris told the reporters that “Yes, we should continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine” and added, “There is no indication to not use it”.