A health worker is holding a box of the AstraZeneneca vaccine at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Nonthaburi district on the outskirts of Bangkok.
Chapat Subprasom | SOPA Images LightRocket through Getty Images
LONDON – The coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University has now been canceled in several countries across Europe and Asia, following reports of blood clots in some vaccinated people . Many other countries, however, have defended the use of the image and said they will continue their inoculation campaigns.
Thailand on Friday became the first Asian country to suspend the use of the injection over safety concerns, shortly after Denmark announced a two-week halt to its nationwide distribution following reports of blood clots and one death.
In a ban on the European disease vaccination campaign, seven other countries have also banned the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca bullet: Norway, Iceland, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.
Austria and Italy, meanwhile, have said they will stop using some vaccines as a precautionary measure.
The European drug regulator, the European Pharmaceutical Agency, on Thursday confirmed that there was no sign that the bullet was causing blood clots, adding that it believes the benefits of the vaccine “remain outweighing its dangers. “
The EMA acknowledged that some member states had stopped using the Oxford-AstraZeneca bullet but said that inoculations could be administered while an investigation into clot issues is ongoing. blood.
On Wednesday, around 5 million people in Europe had received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Of this figure, 30 cases of “thromboembolic events” were reported. These cases refer to the formation of blood clots in the blood vessels and obstruction of blood flow.
AstraZeneca has stated that the vaccine was extensively tested during Phase 3 trials and peer-reviewed data confirms that the bullet “is generally recovering well. “
Why are countries stopping vaccine campaigns?
Thailand’s health ministry announced on Friday that it would suspend use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, citing the picture as a “good vaccine” but one it wants to postpone for safety checks.
Kiattiphum Wongjit, permanent secretary for the Ministry of Public Health, said the Southeast Asian country was able to halt their vaccination campaign as it had largely brought a second wave of Covid cases under control through quarantines and border controls, according to Reuters.
A press conference on stopping the distribution of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in Thailand is being held in Bangkok, Thailand, March 12, 2021.
Xinhua | Rachen Sageamsak through Getty Images
The country of nearly 70 million people has so far recorded about 26,600 cases and 85 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Thailand’s decision to suspend the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which was due to start on Friday, came after the decision by the Danish Health Authority.
“It is important to emphasize that we did not opt out of the AstraZeneca vaccine, but that we seized it,” said Soren Brostrom, director of the National Health Board in Denmark, on Thursday.
“There is good evidence that the vaccine is both safe and effective. But we and the Danish Pharmaceutical Agency have to deal with reports of possible side effects, both from Denmark and European countries. another. “
Many high-income countries have chosen to continue the rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine following safety concerns.
The UK, France, Australia, Canada and Mexico are among some countries that have tried to reassure citizens about the benefits of getting the vaccine and have said they will continue. proceed with their inoculation processes.
What do the experts say?
The EMA safety committee is reviewing the case, but has said there is currently no evidence that the vaccine caused blood clots – noting that they are not. listed as side effects of this vaccine.
The European drug regulator also noted that the data available so far showed that the number of blood clots in vaccinated people does not exceed the number seen in the Scottish population. space.
“Reports of blood clots received to date do not exceed the number that would have occurred naturally in the vaccinated population,” said Dr. Phil Bryan, director of vaccine safety at the British Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
“Public safety always comes first. This issue is being closely monitored but the available evidence does not prove that vaccination is to blame. People should still go and get the COVID-19 vaccine when asked to do so, “Bryan said.
Southampton resident Peter Brownsea receives the Oxford / AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine from a member of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service at a temporary vaccination center set up at Basingstoke Fire Station, Hampshire, southern England, while crews continue to take 999 emergency calls.
Anndra Matthews | AFP | Getty Images
Stephen Evans, professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: “The problem with unsustainable reports of suspected adverse effects on vaccines is the major problem in distinguishing causal effects from coincidence. . “
“This is especially true when we know that there is a strong link between Covid-19 disease and bleeding and there are hundreds if not thousands of deaths caused by bleeding as a result of Covid-19 disease. The first thing that should be done is to be absolutely sure that the clots had no other cause, including Covid – 19, “Evans said.
How does the vaccine work?
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is a drug designed to prevent coronavirus in people aged 18 and over. It is made up of an adenovirus that has been modified to contain the gene to make proteins from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
The most common side effects of the picture, in which the virus does not and cannot be caused by Covid, are usually mild or moderate and develop within a few days of vaccination.
Late-stage clinical trials found that AstraZeneca-Oxford had an average burn with an average efficacy of 70% in protection against the virus.
A more recent study by researchers from Oxford found that the Covid vaccine was 76% effective in preventing symptomatic disease for three months after a single dose, and that the level of efficacy increased with a longer interval. between the first and second dose.
– CNBC’s Holly ellyatt he contributed to this report.