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Where European countries stand on AstraZeneca's vaccine following reports of blood clots
From CNN's Schams Elwazer
Medical personnel prepares a syringe for vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine at the Region Hovedstaden's vaccine center in Copenhagen, Denmark, on February 11. Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP/Getty Images
Some European countries have suspended the use of the
Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine while the European Union's medicines regulator investigates whether the shot could be linked to a number of reports of blood clots.
Here's a look at where things stand across the continent:
Countries in Europe completely suspending use of AstraZeneca vaccine:
- Denmark: On Thursday, the country suspended the vaccine's use for 14 days as a “precautionary measure” as it investigates “signs of a possible serious side effect in the form of fatal blood clots” after one Danish person died after inoculation, according to Danish health officials.
- Norway: On Thursday, Norway chose to “pause” inoculations with the AstraZeneca vaccine following report of a death in Denmark. A statement from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health also noted that there have been reported cases of blood clots shortly after receiving a Covid-19 vaccination in Norway but “mainly in the elderly where there is often another underlying disease as well.”
- Iceland: The country suspended use of the vaccine although there had been no reports of patients developing blood clots in the country. They are waiting for advice from the European Medicines Agency.
European countries suspending use of specific AstraZeneca vaccine batches:
- Austria: Earlier this week, Austria suspended the use of vaccine batch ABV5300. This was after a person was diagnosed with multiple thrombosis and died ten days after vaccination – and another was hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism but has now recovered, according to the EU’s medicines regulator, the EMA.
- Lithuania, Estonia, Luxembourg, and Latvia: These countries have also suspended use of batch ABV5300.
- Italy: On Thursday, the Italian medicines agency, AIFA, decided to “ban” doses from AstraZeneca vaccine batch ABV2856 following “some serious adverse reactions” in recipients. They did not specify details of the reactions.
How other European countries are reacting:
- UK: On Thursday, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said in a statement, “this is a precautionary measure by the Danish authorities. It has not been confirmed that the report of a blood clot was caused by the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine. People should still go and get their COVID-19 vaccine when asked to do so.”
- Spain: Health Minister Carolina Darias said the country has not reported any case and called for caution while the matter is being reviewed by the European Medicines Agency.
- Netherlands: The Dutch health minister said Thursday that there is no reason to stop using the AstraZeneca vaccine. “Our experts say: There is no cause for concern, we can simply continue vaccinating,” Health Minister Hugo de Jonge told reporters Thursday. “It’s about something that happens after vaccination, not because of vaccination,” de Jonge said.
- France: Health Minister Olivier Véran said Thursday that were was “no need to suspend the use” of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. Veran pointed out that there was no proven additional risk linked to coagulation.
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