Anxiety As Seven Countries Suspend Usage Of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine
There was palpable fear among health workers Thursday as more European countries suspend the usage of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, currently being administered on citizens in Nigeria for allegedly causing blood clotting and other health hazards.
According to the American Cable News Network Cable (CNN), Denmark, Iceland and Norway have suspended the use of the treatment, while the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is investigating the claims.
On Thursday, Italy joined Austria, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Latvia to pause jabs from the batch ABV5300. Danish officials, however, did not specify whether its reported death was connected to the consignment.
The European nation announced a two-week suspension following reports of clotting. Iceland and Norway followed suit, but did not say how long their suspensions would last.
In a statement yesterday, AstraZeneca said patient’s safety was its “highest priority.
A statement issued by Head, Public Relations Unit of NPHCDA said: “We are satisfied that the clinical evidence indicates the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to be safe and effective. Our assessment is in line with countries such as Spain and the UK which have indicated that they will continue to administer the vaccine, because it remains an important tool to protect against COVID-19.”
