Denmark and Norway on Thursday temporarily suspended the use of AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine, following reports of the formation of blood clots among some people who had received the jab.
The Danish health authority said it had suspended the use of the vaccine until further notice after a reported death in the country, although “at present, it cannot be concluded whether there is a link between the vaccine and the blood clots.” The decision is set to be reviewed in two weeks.
“It is currently not possible to conclude whether there is a link. We are acting early, it needs to be thoroughly investigated,” the Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said in a Twitter post.
Following the move by the two countries, Europe’s medicines watchdog, namely the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said that the conditions reported were not listed as side effects with the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine.
“There is currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions, which are not listed as side effects with this vaccine,” EMA said in a statement on Thursday before adding that “the vaccine’s benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing.
Denmark and Norway the were the latest countries across the EU to stop the provision of the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine against Coronavirus, as Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Latvia have also suspended its use while investigations continue. Shortly after Denmark’s and Norway’s move, Iceland followed suit.