Thailand is the latest country to delay vaccination use in the UK after health authorities in Denmark, Norway and Iceland suspended the shots on Thursday.
Austria had earlier stopped using a bunch of AstraZeneca shots while investigating deaths due to coagulation disorders and an illness due to a pulmonary embolism.
‘Blood clot’
Denmark only suspended the shots for two weeks after a 60-year-old woman, who received an AstraZeneca shot from the same group used in Austria, formed a blood clot and died, Danish health authorities said.
Their response has also been fueled by reports “of possible serious side effects” from other European countries.
“It is currently not possible to determine if there is a link. We are acting early, it needs to be thoroughly investigated,” Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said on Twitter.
Iceland stung the vaccine on Thursday as it awaits the results of an investigation by the EMA. Italy also said on Thursday that the use of an AstraZeneca bundle not used in Austria would be suspended.
Four other countries – Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Latvia – have halted vaccinations from the group while the investigation continues, the EMA said.
Little evidence
Some health experts have said that there is little evidence that the AstraZeneca vaccine should not be administered, and that the number of such cases is similar to the number of such cases in the general population.
“The problem with spontaneous reports of suspected side effects on a vaccine is the huge problem of distinguishing a causal effect of a coincidence,” Stephen Evans, professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told Reuters said.
The European Drug Regulator EMA said that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks and that it can still be administered.
AstraZeneca said in a written statement to Reuters that the safety of the vaccine in human trials had been extensively studied and confirmed by peer-reviewed data that it was generally well tolerated.
Other experts have pointed out that of the millions of AstraZeneca vaccine shots administered elsewhere, including in Britain, no cases of the vaccine have been reported to cause blood clots or related problems.
Australia, Canada to continue deployment
Meanwhile, Australia on Friday said it would continue rolling out AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine as there was no evidence of a blood clot connection.
The Australian government has said that while the pharmaceutical regulator is monitoring these cases, there will be no pause in the deployment of the vaccine.
“We are continuing with the vaccine, we are continuing with the rollout,” Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack told reporters in Melbourne.
Canada also said the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe after Denmark and Norway temporarily suspended its use.
“Health Canada is aware of reports of adverse events in Europe following vaccination with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, and wants to reassure Canadians that the benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh the risks,” the Department of Health said in a statement. said.
“At present, there is no indication that the vaccine caused these events,” he said.
Mexico has also said it will continue to apply doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Swedish authorities said they had not found sufficient evidence to stop the vaccination with AstraZeneca’s sting.