Ireland, Netherlands suspend AstraZeneca vaccine in fear of blood clots

London — Ireland and the Netherlands participated An ever-growing list of countries Stopped using the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca Oxford University talked about blood clot concerns.

The Dutch government said on Sunday that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine would not be used until at least March 29, but Ireland said it had temporarily suspended shots as a precautionary measure earlier that day.

The World Health Organization has sought to downplay ongoing safety concerns, saying last week there was no link between firing and an increased risk of developing blood clots. The United Nations Health Organization has urged countries to continue using the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Nevertheless, many European countries Already paused Oxford-Use of AstraZeneca vaccine.It was added to the local worries Affected vaccination campaign When the German public health agency warns: Third wave of coronavirus infection It has already started.

Thailand has also stopped the planned deployment of the vaccine.

A move by Dutch and Irish authorities to suspend its use took place shortly after the Norwegian pharmaceutical institution. Said After receiving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, three health care workers were informed that they were being treated in the hospital for bleeding, thrombocytosis, and decreased thrombocytopenia. Norway has put the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine program on hold.

“We will track these suspicious side effects and take the necessary steps in this serious situation,” said Geir Bukholm, director of infection control and environmental hygiene at the Norwegian Institute for Public Health.

The European Medicines Agency, the European drug regulator, also said there were no signs that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was causing blood clots, adding that it believed that the benefits of the vaccine “continue to outweigh the risks.”

The EMA has confirmed that some European countries have suspended the use of Oxford-AstraZeneca shots, but said vaccinations could continue while investigations of cases of blood clots were ongoing. It was.

“A careful review of all available safety data for more than 17 million people vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca in the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom revealed pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or Defined age group, gender, batch, or thrombocytopenia in a particular country, AstraZeneca Said In a statement on Sunday.

The most common side effects of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine are virus-free and cannot cause Covid, but are usually mild or moderate and improve within a few days of vaccination.

Pharmaceutical giants said 15 events of deep vein thrombosis and 22 events of pulmonary embolism were reported among vaccinated people throughout the EU and the UK.

“This is much lower than expected to occur naturally in the general population of this size and is similar across all other licensed COVID-19 vaccines,” said AstraZeneca.