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HEALTH-VIRUS-WHO-VACCINES-ASTRAZENECA
No reason to stop using AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine: WHO
GENEVA, March 12, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – The World Health Organization said
Friday there was no reason to stop using AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine after
several European countries suspended the roll-out over blood clot fears.
The WHO said its vaccines advisory committee was currently looking at
safety data and stressed that no causal link had been established between the
vaccine and clotting.
Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Italy and Romania postponed or limited the
rollout of AstraZeneca vaccines after isolated reports of recipients
developing blood clots.
“AstraZeneca is an excellent vaccine, as are the other vaccines that are
being used,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters at a briefing in
Geneva.
“We’ve reviewed the data on deaths. There has been no death, to date,
proven to have be caused by vaccination,” she said.
“Yes, we should continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine,” she added,
stressing though that “any safety signal must be investigated.”
“We must always ensure that we look for any safety signals when we roll out
vaccines, and we must review them,” she said.
“But there is no indication to not use it.”
BSS/AFP/SSS/1852 hrs