BANGKOK (AP) – Thai Prime Minister received AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday as much of Asia raised concerns about reports of blood clots in some European recipients, saying no so far there is evidence linking the two.
Many countries that use the vaccine have also said that the benefits of inoculation far outweigh the potential risks, even though some parts of Europe have suspended it pending further potential side effects.
AstraZeneca has developed a production base in Asia, and the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, has been contracted by the company to produce one billion doses of vaccine for developing countries. Hundreds of millions more are to be manufactured this year in Australia, Japan, Thailand and South Korea.
“There are people who have concerns,” said Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha after receiving the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine. “But we have to believe in doctors, to believe in our medical professionals.”
Last week, Thailand was the first country outside Europe to temporarily suspend the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Indonesia followed on Monday, saying it was waiting for a full report from the World Health Organization on possible side effects.
But the Thai health authorities decided to go ahead with AstraZeneca, Prayuth and his cabinet members receiving the first shots.
A large number of European countries – including Germany, France, Italy and Spain – on Monday suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of dangerous blood clots in some recipients, although the company and international regulators say there is no evidence of guilt. it would be his fault.
The EU Drug Enforcement Agency convened a meeting on Thursday to discuss experts’ findings on the AstraZeneca shooting and to decide whether action should be taken.
Other countries in the Asia-Pacific region have also said they will continue vaccination programs.
In the Philippines, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said his country would not suspend its use because the benefits outweigh any risks. The country has so far received 525.00 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine under the COVAX agreement of the World Health Organization and has administered 12,788 doses so far. Several million doses have been ordered by the government and private companies.
“There are still no clear data showing that the blood clotting was caused by AstraZeneca. If such data appears, maybe we will stop using AstraZeneca “, said Roque. “From now on, our experts say again that the benefits of using AstraZeneca outweigh the side effects of this vaccine.”
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt has said his country will not suspend vaccinations. Australia has vaccinated about 200,000 people so far and plans to import and manufacture 70 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine.
“The government clearly, unequivocally, absolutely supports the launch of AstraZeneca, clearly, unequivocally, absolutely. And the reason why it is so simple – it will help save lives and protect lives, and it is done on the basis of medical advice, “Hunt told Parliament.
Australian Medical Director Paul Kelly said there was no evidence so far that the vaccine would cause blood clots.
“Blood clots form, they happen quite often in Australia,” he said. “But from my perspective, I don’t see any specific link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots, and I’m not alone in that.”
By far, the largest user of the AstraZeneca vaccine is India.
India uses two vaccines – the AstraZeneca shot made by the Serum Institute of India and another by Indian vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech – to immunize its vast population. Of the more than 25.6 million people in India who have received at least one vaccine, more than 23.4 million have received the AstraZeneca vaccine, according to government data.
Health officials told India’s Press Trust on Saturday that a total of 234 adverse events, including 71 deaths, had been reported after receiving any vaccine – but that no causal link had been found. The government is now examining the cases for a final assessment.
Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, has been contracted by AstraZeneca to make one billion doses of the vaccine for developing countries. As of March 4, India had exported more than 48.1 million doses of vaccine, including 11.9 million doses to COVAX and 28.8 million doses as commercial exports, according to government data.
Meanwhile, health activists and medical ethics experts in India have warned that Indian systems for monitoring harmful side effects are too lax.
With the exception of a few countries, such as Singapore and India, Asian nations have been quite slow in vaccinating their population. Most nations, including Australia, New Zealand and Thailand, have been relatively successful in limiting the spread of COVID-19.
Thailand has ordered just enough vaccine from AstraZeneca and China to cover about half of its population this year and has so far managed to inoculate around 50,000 people in high-risk groups.
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Associated Press journalists Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul from Bangkok, Jim Gomez from Manilla, Rod McGuirk from Canberra, Australia, Moussa Moussa from Sydney, Niniek Karmini from Jakarta, Indonesia, Aniruddha Ghosal from New Delhi, Kim Tong-hyung from Seoul, South Korea and Mari Yamaguchi of Tokyo contributed to this report