Germany has temporarily suspended the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19.
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The Federal Ministry of Health announced this, explaining that the measure was taken "as a precaution". This was reported by German media. The federal government, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health explained, acted following a recommendation from the Federal Institute for Vaccine Research Paul Ehrlich (PEI). Following new reports of cases of thrombosis in people who had been vaccinated in Germany and Europe, the Institute believes further investigation is necessary.
Indonesia also suspends AstraZeneca administration
Indonesia has also decided to temporarily suspend the administration of anti-Covid vaccines developed by the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, pending a review by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, announced this during a hearing in parliament. The decision comes after a similar one by several European countries concerned about some deaths among patients who were administered the vaccine. According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), however, there is no evidence to indicate a correlation between the deaths and the vaccine.
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“To be on the safe side, the Food and Drug Administration has delayed the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine and is waiting for confirmation from the WHO,” Sadikin explained. Indonesia, which started its vaccination campaign last January based on serums developed by China, received 1,1 million doses of AstraZeneca this month through the WHO Covax initiative. Another 10 million doses of the same vaccine are expected to arrive in the next two months. Thailand had postponed the start of AstraZeneca administrations on Friday, but they are expected to start tomorrow.
WHO verifies AstraZeneca report: 'no link so far'
THEWorld Health Organization is examining reports on the AstraZeneca vaccine but has no evidence at this time of a causal link between the health incidents and the anti-Covid preparation. Responding to a question from Reuters, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said: "As soon as WHO has comprehensive knowledge of the events, the findings or any changes to the current recommendations will be immediately communicated to the public," he explained. "To date, there is no evidence that the incidents are caused by the vaccine and it is important that vaccination campaigns continue in order to save lives and limit serious problems related to the virus."
BORIS JOHNSON: 'THEY ARE SAFE FOR US'
Can Boris Johnson reassure British citizens that AstraZeneca's Covid vaccines have no fear of serious side effects? "Yes, I can, because the MHRA (British medicines agency) has some of the strictest and most experienced controllers in the world and they have no reason to suspend any of the vaccines we are using." This is what the Tory prime minister told a reporter in Coventry. "The MHRA has verified the effectiveness of these vaccines," BoJo continued, "not only in reducing hospitalizations, but in general serious infections and mortality: this is why we are moving forward with confidence" and "at great speed" in administering them.
Article published on March 15, 2021 - 15pm
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