EU States To Resume COVID-19 Vaccine Roll Out Using AstraZeneca
EU leading states are set to resume AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines roll out among citizens after medicines regulator gave go signal and decided that the vaccine was safe and effective.
European Medicines Agency (EMA) had first reviewed the said vaccine after several European Union States either suspended or canceled their vaccination programs last week following reports that it caused blood clots among injected individuals.
The agency said that the higher risks for blood clots were not associated with the vaccine.
European Union member states such as France, Germany, Italy and Spain had announced their resumption in rolling out the vaccine for their inoculation program. However, some also had not yet decided if they will resume their vaccination using AstraZeneca vaccine, such as Sweden, who said that it still needs a "few days" to decide on the matter.
On Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) had suggested that the countries should continue the use of the vaccine and that the organization is set to release its findings for their internal review regarding the vaccine's safety.
WHO's investigation focused mainly on the said side effects of the vaccine, which was allegedly blood clots in the head. With this, they observed the cases related to cerebral venous thrombosis.
Due to the suspension of the vaccine rollout in the region, it sparked concerns as it has further affected the vaccination drive, which had already been by supply shortages previously.
Jean Castex, French Prime Minister, had announced on Thursday the new measures to be set for France as the country is now preparing for the "third wave" because of the continuous increase of the COVID cases. France recently announced that the country's capital, Paris, will have its month-long lockdown for fears of the third wave.
The Prime Minister said that he would vaccinate himself on Friday afternoon.
EU states will have the liberty to decide if they will restart the vaccination using AstraZeneca vaccines and when they will plan to do it.