From Associated Press - Many European countries - including Germany, France, Ireland, Denmark, Italy, and Spain - have discontinued distribution of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine after reports of 37 recipients experiencing dangerous blood clots. Both AstraZeneca and international regulators claim that there is no link between the vaccine and the allegedly dangerous clots that some recipients are experiencing.
Germany's vaccine regulator, the Paul Ehrlich Institute, called for further investigation into the vaccine's potential side effects. Germany health minister Jens Spahn acted accordingly, stating, "Today's decision is a purely precautionary measure."
Approximately 17 million Europeans have been vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine thus far. The European Medicines Agency noted that many thousands of people in the European Union develop blood clots for different reasons each year and that the incidences of blood clotting involving people who were vaccinated with AstraZeneca's vaccine seem to be no higher than what is typically seen in the European Union's general population.
AstraZeneca has not yet begun distribution in the United States, although it was expected to apply for authorization to begin distribution in the United States within the coming weeks.
Image from NBC News
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