BANGKOK (AP) – Thai Prime Minister received a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine made by AstraZeneca on Tuesday, as many Asians dispelled concerns about reports of blood clots in some European recipients, saying no there is no evidence to date link the two.
AstraZeneca has developed a manufacturing facility in Asia, and the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, has been contracted by the company to produce billions of doses of the vaccine for countries. under development. Hundreds of millions more will be produced this year in Australia, Japan, Thailand and South Korea.
“There are people who have concerns,” Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said after receiving the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. “But we need to believe doctors, believe in our medical professionals.”
Thailand last week became the first country outside Europe to be temporarily shut down using the AstraZeneca vaccine. Indonesia continued Monday, saying it was awaiting a full report from the World Health Organization on possible side effects.
But Thai health authorities decided to go ahead with AstraZeneca, with Prayuth and members of his Cabinet getting the first shots.
A large number of European countries – including Germany, France, Italy and Spain – suspended the AstraZeneca vaccine on Monday over reports of dangerous blood clots in some recipients, although the company and international regulators say there is no evidence that the bullet is to blame.
The EU drugs regulatory body called a meeting for Thursday to review experts’ decisions on AstraZeneca’s design and to decide whether action is needed.
Other countries in the Asian region said they would go ahead with vaccination programs.
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt said his country would not suspend vaccinations. Australia has vaccinated around 200,000 people so far and plans to import and export 70 million doses of vaccine from AstraZeneca.
“The government is clearly, vaguely, fully supportive of the deployment of AstraZeneca, clearly, vaguely, completely. And the reason is that it’s very simple – it will help save lives and protect lives, and it’s done on the basis of medical advice, “Hunt told the Parliament.
Australia’s chief medical officer Paul Kelly said there had been no evidence to date that the vaccine causes blood clots.
“Blood clots happen, they happen in Australia very commonly,” he said. “However, from my point of view, I do not see a specific link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots, and I am not alone in that view.”
India is the largest consumer of AstraZeneca vaccine.
India is using two vaccines – the AstraZeneca painting by the Serum Institute of India, and another by the Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech – to make the vaccine available to their large population. Of the more than 25.6 million people in India who received at least one shot of a vaccine, more than 23.4 million have received an AstraZeneca bullet, according to government data.
Health officials told the Press Trust of India news agency on Saturday that 234 serious incidents, including 71 deaths, had been reported after receiving the vaccine – but no causal link was found. The government is now reviewing the cases for a final assessment.
The Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, has contracted with AstraZeneca to produce billions of doses of vaccine for developing countries. By March 4, India had dispensed more than 48.1 million doses of vaccine, including 11.9 million doses to COVAX and 28.8 million doses as commercial exports, according to government data.
Meanwhile, health activists and medical ethics experts in India have warned that India’s systems for monitoring for any harmful side effects are too lax.
With the exception of a few countries, such as Singapore and India, Asian countries have been very slow in getting the vaccine. Most countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Thailand, have been relatively successful in introducing COVID-19 emissions.
Thailand has just ordered enough vaccines from AstraZeneca and China to cover about half of their population this year and so far have protected about 50,000 people in high-risk groups.
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Associated Press reporters covered Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul in Bangkok, Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, Moussa Moussa in Sydney, Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aniruddha Ghosal in New Delhi, Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, Korea South, and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo this report