COVID-19 Vaccine: AstraZeneca Reacts Following European Nations Suspending Its Use

AstraZeneca has released a statement in its defense after several European countries suspended the roll-out of the vaccine due to reports about blood clots.

Among the nations include Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Bulgaria. Asian country Thailand also paused its use of the vaccine as investigations to determine its safety are ongoing.

The statement from AstraZeneca comes in response to reports of blood clots in a few inoculated persons in Denmark, including one death.

Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand canceled plans to get his shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine this weekend and the nation has also delayed its roll-out.

A senior member of the country's vaccination committee said of the suspension, "When there's an adverse event, we don't need to be in a rush."

READ ALSO: AstraZeneca Vaccine: Despite Suspension By Eight Countries, FG Says Vaccination Continues

In its official statement, AstraZeneca stated that there was "no evidence of an increased risk" of blood clots and that European medicine regulators have said that there was no confirmation of the link between the vaccine and blood clots.

Additionally, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) disclosed that it did not recommend the suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine as there was no indication that it caused the blood clots in the people who received the vaccine.

"The vaccine's benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while the investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing", it said.