AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The Netherlands on Sunday joined a fast-growing list of countries suspending the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine following reports of unexpected possible side effects from the injection.
The vaccination will only be used as a precaution on March 29, the Dutch government said in a statement.
The announcement will lead to delays in the rollout of shots in the Netherlands, which pre-ordered 12 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine.
Health authorities have planned about 290,000 AstraZeneca injections in the next two weeks.
The move, which follows a similar decision by Ireland earlier in the day, is based on reports from Denmark and Norway about possible serious side effects, the government said.
Three health workers in Norway who recently received the vaccine are being treated in hospital for bleeding, blood clots and a low blood platelet count, Norwegian health authorities said on Saturday.
There have been no such cases in the Netherlands yet, the Dutch Ministry of Health said. There is still no evidence of a direct link between the vaccine and the reports from Denmark and Norway.
“We can leave no doubt about the vaccine,” said Health Minister Hugo de Jonge.
“We have to make sure everything is right, so it’s wise to stop for now.”
AstraZeneca said on Sunday that a review of the safety data of people vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine shows no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots.
Late last week, the Dutch government said there was no reason to stop using the AstraZeneca vaccine, as the EMA said there was no indication it could cause blood clots.
But De Jonge said his decision was informed by new reports, which will now be investigated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Along with Denmark, Norway and Ireland, Iceland also suspended the use of the vaccine due to clotting issues, while Thailand became the first country outside Europe on Friday.
In the northern region of Piedmont, Italy, said on Sunday that they would no longer use AstraZeneca vaccines, after a teacher died on Saturday after his vaccination. Austria also stopped using a specific group last week.
Reporting by Bart Meijer; Edited by Diane Craft and Lincoln Feast.