At least 12 countries have temporarily suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine due to concerns over blood clotting, including Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. Denmark was the first country to pause the use of the vaccine last week after reports of blood clotting in some individuals, but noted at the time that the decision was largely precautionary. AstraZeneca reaffirmed the vaccine’s safety earlier this week, and the European Medicines Agency (which has said that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks) is expected to discuss the issue this week.
More context: AstraZeneca noted that the number of blood clotting events (37) among those who have been vaccinated (17M) is “much lower” than would be expected to occur naturally in the general population (source).
The New Paper
This story is from the March 16, 2021 edition of The New Paper – a clear, concise daily briefing that makes fact-first news easy to consume. Try it today.
