Ireland has reportedly temporarily halted the use of a new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine developed by Oxford University with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. Previously, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Romania, Italy and Bulgaria temporarily stopped using the vaccine. In addition, Frans Timmermans, vice president of the European Union (EU) Commission, said they had “made mistakes” regarding the ordering of the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines, both late and inadequate.
The National Vaccination Advisory Committee (NIAC) has proposed a temporary halt to the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in light of reports that it causes blood clotting in some adults in Norway.
Irish Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said on Twitter that the temporary cessation of use of the Covid-19 vaccine was based on new information from Norway late last night and that niac’s recommendation was precautionary.
A spokesman for AstraZeneca told Irish national television RTE that safety analysis of the 17 million Covid-19 vaccines had found no evidence that the vaccine caused clotting in the blood, and that clinical trials had not observed such a trend.
A company spokesman said they continue to carefully review all data related to the safety of the vaccine and will continue to share it immediately.
About 110,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine were reportedly administered in Ireland.
Previously, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Romania, Italy and Bulgaria temporarily stopped using the vaccine.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that some countries are aware that they are suspending the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, and that their investigations into it are ongoing.
WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said, “AstraZeneca, like other vaccines used, is an excellent vaccine. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t be used. We’ve been through the data on the deaths. To date, there have been no deaths that have been proven to be caused by vaccination,” he said.
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Meanwhile, Frans Timmermans, vice-president of the European Union (EU) Commission, said they had “made mistakes” regarding the ordering of the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines, both late and inadequate.
Timmermans told German newspaper Tagesspiegel that the Covid-19 vaccines had been ordered both late and inadequately for some time.
“It is true that mistakes were made when ordering vaccines both in Brussels and in member states,” Timmermans said.
Timmermans said that citizens understand that they want the vaccine to be provided as quickly as possible, adding that “if the EU does not act on the basis of our common values and only the richest can afford the vaccine, it would be a problem not only for poor countries, but for everyone.”
Timmermans noted that they are ready to carry out a situation assessment after the outbreak ends. That’s the prerequisite for going back to our normal lives. For me, it means I can visit my family again and hug my grandson. Millions of Europeans ?? He feels the same way,” he said.
Some EU member states have criticised the EU for ordering Covid-19 vaccines in both late and inadequate numbers.
Another criticism is the EU Medicines Agency EMA’s late approval of vaccines developed by Biontech-Pfizer, Moderna, Astrazeneca and Johnson-Johnson.
