France resumes jabs with AstraZeneca vaccine

France resumed vaccinations with the AstraZeneca jab on Friday, following a brief suspension over fears of blood clots. Leaders sought to reassure their populations it is safe as the suspension cast doubt on a vaccine that is critical to end the coronavirus pandemic. 59-year-old old Alain Lostis rushed into a pharmacy outside Paris on Friday afternoon, just in time to get the last dose from a vial of AstraZeneca.

Lotis shrugged off concerns about the vaccine, saying he thought it had been scrutinized sufficiently. Steve Chemouny, the pharmacist administering the vaccine, wasn't surprised that all the doses went in a brisk five minutes. Chemouny said he was looking forward to a new delivery next week for the clients he couldn't vaccinate on Friday. The suspensions earlier this week came after reports of blood clots in some recipients of the vaccine, even though international health agencies urged governments to press ahead with the shot, saying the benefits outweighed the risks.

The World Health Organization said Friday the shot has "tremendous potential to prevent infections and reduce deaths," and while some very rare clots have been detected after a few people received the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe, "it is not certain that they have been caused by vaccination."

Health experts have expressed concern that even though the suspensions were brief, they could still damage confidence in the vaccine at a time when many people are already hesitant to take a shot that was developed so quickly. Earlier Friday French prime minister Jean Castex received the first dose of AstraZeneca in a bid to restore confidence in the embattled vaccine.

(Image Credit: AP)