A health worker is preparing an AstraZeneca Covid-19 dose syringe at Coria City Hospital, Spain.
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LONDON – Health experts say they are disappointed and confused by the wave of coronavirus vaccine suspensions developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, warning that there is not yet enough data to justify these decisions.
Sweden and Latvia joined on Tuesday a rapidly growing list of European countries suspending the use of the vaccine as a precaution following reports of blood clots. Germany, France, Italy and Spain said Monday they would all stop firing.
Other countries, such as Austria, have temporarily discontinued the use of certain batches of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Thailand became the first Asian nation on Friday to stop using security for security reasons.
The United Kingdom, Canada and Australia – which continue to implement the vaccine – are among some of the countries that want to reassure citizens about its benefits.
The World Health Organization, the European Medicines Regulatory Authority and the International Society for Thrombosis and Hemostasis have recommended that countries continue to use the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
There are still no signs of data to really justify these decisions.
Michael Head
Senior researcher in global health at the University of Southampton
“The decisions made by France, Germany and other countries seem daunting,” said Dr. Michael Head, senior researcher in global health at the University of Southampton, UK.
The data we have suggest that the number of adverse events related to blood clots is the same (and possibly, in fact, lower) in vaccinated groups, compared to unvaccinated populations, he continued.
“Discontinuing the vaccine during a pandemic has consequences. This results in delays in protecting people and the potential for increased hesitation in the vaccine as a result of people who have seen the headlines and have become understandably concerned. data that really justifies these decisions, “Head added.
WHO experts will meet on Tuesday to review the safety of the shooting.
The European Medicines Agency, which is also assessing the safety of the medicine, said there was no indication that it would cause blood clots, adding that it believes the vaccine’s benefits “continue to outweigh its risks”.
What did AstraZeneca say?
More than 17 million people in the European Union and the United Kingdom have received a dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, with fewer than 40 cases of blood clots reported since last week, AstraZeneca said in a statement.
The pharmaceutical giant said that there were 15 events of deep vein thrombosis and 22 events of pulmonary embolism reported among those vaccinated across the EU and the UK.
“This is much lower than would be expected to occur naturally in a general population of this size and is similar to other authorized COVID-19 vaccines,” said AstraZeneca.
The EMA also said that the data available so far have shown that the number of blood clots in vaccinated people is not higher than that observed among the general population.
A bottle of AstraZeneca vaccine.
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Europe’s attention to the drug has exacerbated the troubles of the region’s sick vaccination campaign and comes at a time when Germany’s public health agency has warned that a third wave of coronavirus infections has already begun.
Dr Stephen Griffin, an associate professor at the University of Leeds School of Medicine, said the news that many European countries had suspended the launch of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was “disappointing”.
“As many European countries are currently facing another recurrence of SARS-CoV2 infections and are still lagging behind in terms of implementation, the importance of continuing vaccination programs cannot be underestimated, and the damage caused by people’s deprivation of access to the vaccine they probably go far beyond even the worst case scenario if there is finally a link to the clotting disorders, “Griffin said.
“It should also be noted that gestures at the national level, such as these, are bound to fuel more extreme hesitation or anti-vaccine sentiment, further undermining the vaccination effort,” he added.
How does the vaccine work?
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is a vaccine designed to prevent coronavirus in people aged 18 years and over. It consists of an adenovirus that has been modified to contain the gene for the production of a protein from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. As such, the vaccine does not contain the virus and cannot cause Covid.
The most common side effects of the shot are usually mild or moderate and improve within a few days of vaccination.
Late stage clinical trials have found that AstraZeneca-Oxford shot has an average efficacy of 70% in protecting against the virus.
“We are reviewing the reports closely, but the available evidence does not suggest that the vaccine is the cause,” said Dr Phil Bryan, leader in vaccine safety at the UK’s Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency.
“Blood clots can occur naturally and are not uncommon. More than 11 million doses of the AZ vaccine have now been given in the UK, and the number of blood clots reported after the vaccine is no higher than the number that would have occurred naturally in the vaccinated population, “he continued.
“We are working closely with international counterparts to understand the overall safety experience of COVID-19 vaccines and for the rapid exchange of safety data and reports.”