Reports of blood clot formation cases, including one in Denmark, have forced Denmark to temporarily suspend AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine shots.
On Thursday, the Danish authorities announced the suspension without revealing the exact number of blood clot reports.
While investigating a death from coagulation disorders and an illness from a pulmonary embolism, Austria has stopped using the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Reportedly, six other European countries have halted the use of the vaccine batch.
In a statement, the director of the Danish Health Authority, Soren Brostrom said, “Both we and the Danish Medicines Agency have to respond to reports of possible serious side-effects, both from Denmark and other European countries.”
According to the health agency, the vaccine would be suspended for 14 days. However, details of the Danish blood clot patient were not revealed.
On the other hand, AstraZeneca has argued that the vaccines have undergone strict and rigorous quality controls, adding that have been “no confirmed serious adverse events associated with the vaccine."
It further confirmed that it would fully support the investigation of Austrian authorities as it is in contact with them.
According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), so far there is no evidence linking AstraZeneca to the two cases in Austria.
Reportedly, in people who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine, the number of thromboembolic events marked by the formation of blood clots is no higher than that seen in the general population.
22 cases of such events have been reported among the 3 million people who have received it as of March 9.
An investigation into the vaccine has been launched by the Danish Medicines Agency and it is working with corresponding agencies in other EU-countries as well as EMA.
Brostrom said, “It is important to emphasise that we have not opted out of using the AstraZeneca vaccine, but that we are putting it on hold.”
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