AstraZeneca Shots Paused In European Countries; WHO Says It's Safe

<p>After several countries in Europe including Germany, France, Italy, and others suspended the use of AstraZeneca&rsquo;s Covid-19 vaccine to investigate possible side-effects, the World Health Organization&rsquo;s director-general has addressed the concerns saying that systems meant to protect public health were working.</p> <p>&nbsp;&ldquo;This does not necessarily mean these events are linked to Covid-19 vaccination, but it&rsquo;s routine practice to investigate them, and it shows that the surveillance system works and that effective controls are in place,&rdquo; Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a virtual media briefing, as per Reuters. <strong>Also Read: <a href="https://ift.tt/3bSzzsq Prime Minister Boris Johnson To Visit India In April As Part Of Policy 'Tilt'</a></strong></p> <h3><strong>What does WHO say?</strong></h3> <p>A WHO advisory committee will discuss the vaccination on Tuesday after several countries in Europe reported serious conditions in people who had received the shot.</p> <p>Denmark and Norway halted the AstraZeneca shot last week after the countries reported isolated cases of blood clots, bleeding, or a low platelet count. In fact, Iceland and Bulgaria also stopped the jab along with Ireland and the Netherlands who announced suspensions on Sunday.</p> <p>The top WHO scientist also stressed the fact so far there had been no documented deaths linked to COVID-19 vaccines.</p> <p>&nbsp;&ldquo;We do not want people to panic,&rdquo; WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan told the briefing, adding that no association had so far been found between the &ldquo;thromboembolic events&rdquo; reported in some countries and COVID-19 shots.</p> <p>There are many countries still continuing with the shots even as some countries suspended it as the WHO and other bodies say the benefits continue to outweigh any risks.</p> <p>For instance, in the United Kingdom, where the AstraZeneca vaccine was developed in partnership with Oxford University, stated that it has no concerns while the drugmaker has said a review of safety data has shown no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots. Meanwhile, Canada is going to update its guidelines on AstraZeneca Plc's Covid-19 vaccine that will pave way to administer vaccine to people aged 65 years and older, CBC News reported quoting documents</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

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