Germany, France and several other EU countries decided on Thursday to continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) considered the shot safe and effective.
According to Health Minister Jens Spahn, Germany will resume the administration. However, the vaccine will provide new advice on possible side effects.
“The general goal of the federal government and all 16 states is that vaccinations with AstraZeneca start tomorrow,” Spahn said.
Germany had previously suspended the vaccine as a precaution, with Spahn promising to take a decision on the vaccine following EMA guidance.
“The EMA analysis confirmed the action we took,” Spahn continued. “It was right to suspend vaccinations as a precaution until the accumulation of cases with this very rare type of thrombosis could be analyzed.”
Where are other European countries?
France, Italy, Latvia, Bulgaria and Slovenia will also continue the AstraZeneca vaccine under EMA guidance. French Prime Minister Jean Castex plans to receive the AstraZeneca shot on Friday to boost public confidence in the vaccine.
“The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is effective, as underlined by the European regulator. It has only relatively rare side effects,” Castex said.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said the vaccinations with AstraZeneca would “resume tomorrow”, adding that “the government’s priority is to carry out as many vaccinations as possible in the shortest possible time.”
Spain will reintroduce AstraZeneca vaccinations on Wednesday, but exclude some demographic groups to limit health risks.
According to Health Minister Arunas Dulkys, Lithuania will resume the AstraZeneca sample on Friday. Dulkys will receive the AstraZeneca vaccine on Monday along with the President, Prime Minister and Parliamentary Speaker of Lithuania.
Norway, Sweden must wait first
Norway and Sweden will keep the AstraZeneca vaccine suspended because their public health agencies are assessing the situation.
‘Vaccinations with AstraZeneca will remain suspended until we have a full overview of the situation,’ the director of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Camilla Stoltenberg, told reporters, saying it was ‘premature’ to reach the final conclusion on the vaccine to come.
Sweden said it needed “a few days” before deciding on the jab.