European Medicines Agency (EMA) has once again reiterated its backing of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine after Germany suspended its use for people above the age of 60 years.

EMA sees 'no evidence' to restrict AstraZeneca vaccine amid suspensions

The European Union drug regulator said on Wednesday that it has not identified any "specific risk factors" of the Oxford-AstraZeneca <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus&nbsp;vaccine</a>, but is carrying out further analysis.&nbsp;

"At present, the review has not identified any specific risk factors, such as age, gender or a previous medical history of clotting disorders, for these very rare events," the European Medicines Agency in a statement said.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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The announcement comes after some European countries have limited its use only to the elderly population.&nbsp;

The German government on Tuesday said that Oxford-AstraZeneca's vaccine will be used only for over 60-year-olds after the country's regulatory body found "very rare but very serious cases of thrombosis".&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/biontech-pfizer-say-their-covid-19-vaccine-has-100-efficacy-in-12-15-year-olds-374524">BioNTech-Pfizer say their Covid-19 vaccine has 100% efficacy in 12-15 year olds</a>

Der Spiegel magazine on Tuesday reported that Germany's medicines regulator has confirmed 31 cases of blood clots in people vaccinated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and nearly all cases were being detected in young and middle-aged women.

Canada on Monday also halted the drug's use for people under-55s "pending further analysis".&nbsp;

In France, the vaccine can only be used by people over 55s and Spain has taken the same measure for those under-65.&nbsp;

Earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the EU's health body both have shrugged off blood clot fears related to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, calling it safe to use after probes.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The European Union drug regulator said on Wednesday that it has not identified any "specific risk factors" of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, but is carrying out further analysis.

The European Union drug regulator said on Wednesday that it has not identified any "specific risk factors" of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, but is carrying out further analysis. "At present, the review has not identified any specific risk factors, such as age, gender or a previous medical history of clotting disorders, for these very rare events," the European Medicines Agency in a statement said. Watch | The announcement comes after some European countries have limited its use only to the elderly population. The German government on Tuesday said that Oxford-AstraZeneca's vaccine will be used only for over 60-year-olds after the country's regulatory body found "very rare but very serious cases of thrombosis". Also read | BioNTech-Pfizer say their Covid-19 vaccine has 100% efficacy in 12-15 year olds Der Spiegel magazine on Tuesday reported that Germany's medicines regulator has confirmed 31 cases of blood clots in people vaccinated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and nearly all cases were being detected in young and middle-aged women. Canada on Monday also halted the drug's use for people under-55s "pending further analysis". In France, the vaccine can only be used by people over 55s and Spain has taken the same measure for those under-65. Earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the EU's health body both have shrugged off blood clot fears related to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, calling it safe to use after probes.

EU says no age-related risk of AstraZeneca vaccine found so far

Germany is suspending routine use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for people aged below 60 because of a risk of rare blood clots. The decision was taken by the country's health minister after an emergency meeting.

Germany halts use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for under-60s

Germany is set to limit the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine among people aged 60 and above following reports of a rare brain blood disorder. In addition, the country will limit usage among high-priority groups.

"We have to be able trust the vaccines," Chancellor Angela Merkel said during a press conference on Tuesday.&nbsp; "And transparency is the best way to deal with such a situation," she added.

Merkel acted on the advice of STIKO, country’s vaccine committee. After deliberation, the federal and state governments decided against using the vaccine.

People above 60 who have received one shot may get their second shot or wait until further recommendations come in by the end of April.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/canada-to-pause-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-use-for-those-under-55-374290" hreflang="en">Canada to pause AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine use for those under 55</a>

Earlier, STIKO suggested the jab be used only for people aged 60 and above "on the basis of available data on the occurrence of rare but very severe thromboembolic side-effects". In addition, STIKO is considering using a different shot for the second jab.

AstraZeneca responded to the claims saying that safety was its highest priority, while adding that European and UK medical agencies had failed to establish a causal relationship between the vaccine and blood clots.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/eu-asks-astrazeneca-to-catch-up-on-covid-vaccine-deliveries-373240" hreflang="en">EU asks AstraZeneca to 'catch up' on COVID vaccine deliveries</a>

AstraZeneca on March 22 announced that its COVID-19 vaccine is 80 per cent effective against the virus among the elderly, and poses no blood clot risks. The numbers came in after phase III trials in the US, as European countries shun AstraZeneca vaccines for fears of blood clots.

Among the overall population, the vaccine was 79 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic coronavirus.&nbsp;In terms of preventing severe disease and hospitalisation, the vaccine showed 100 per cent efficacy.

The US phase III trials of the vaccines developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University had 32,449 participants, out of whom two thirds received the jab, the company’s statement said. Out of these 20 per cent were aged 65 and above, while 60 per cent had health conditions that pose a high risk of severe case of COVID-19.

Confidence in the safety of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine has taken a hit in European countries. After reports of rare blood clots made the news, people’s confidence in the vaccine dipped especially in Spain, Germany, France, and Italy, poll data shows.

YouGov conducted the poll which found that even by late February, Europeans were wary of the AstraZeneca jab, as opposed to vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. Reports of blood clots from vaccines had severely damaged the public perception surrounding the vaccine.

Germany is set to limit the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine among people aged 60 and above following reports of a rare brain blood disorder. In addition, the country will limit usage among high-priority groups.

Germany is set to limit the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine among people aged 60 and above following reports of a rare brain blood disorder. In addition, the country will limit usage among high-priority groups. "We have to be able trust the vaccines," Chancellor Angela Merkel said during a press conference on Tuesday. "And transparency is the best way to deal with such a situation," she added. Merkel acted on the advice of STIKO, country’s vaccine committee. After deliberation, the federal and state governments decided against using the vaccine. People above 60 who have received one shot may get their second shot or wait until further recommendations come in by the end of April. Also read: Canada to pause AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine use for those under 55 Earlier, STIKO suggested the jab be used only for people aged 60 and above "on the basis of available data on the occurrence of rare but very severe thromboembolic side-effects". In addition, STIKO is considering using a different shot for the second jab. AstraZeneca responded to the claims saying that safety was its highest priority, while adding that European and UK medical agencies had failed to establish a causal relationship between the vaccine and blood clots. Also read: EU asks AstraZeneca to 'catch up' on COVID vaccine deliveries AstraZeneca on March 22 announced that its COVID-19 vaccine is 80 per cent effective against the virus among the elderly, and poses no blood clot risks. The numbers came in after phase III trials in the US, as European countries shun AstraZeneca vaccines for fears of blood clots. Among the overall population, the vaccine was 79 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic coronavirus. In terms of preventing severe disease and hospitalisation, the vaccine showed 100 per cent efficacy. The US phase III trials of the vaccines developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University had 32,449 participants, out of whom two thirds received the jab, the company’s statement said. Out of these 20 per cent were aged 65 and above, while 60 per cent had health conditions that pose a high risk of severe case of COVID-19. Confidence in the safety of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine has taken a hit in European countries. After reports of rare blood clots made the news, people’s confidence in the vaccine dipped especially in Spain, Germany, France, and Italy, poll data shows. YouGov conducted the poll which found that even by late February, Europeans were wary of the AstraZeneca jab, as opposed to vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. Reports of blood clots from vaccines had severely damaged the public perception surrounding the vaccine.

Germany halts use of AstraZeneca vaccine for elderly amid reports of rare disorder

Canada has announced that it will halt the use of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine for those under the age of 55. However, people over the age of 55 will continue to get the jab with 'informed consent'.

Canada suspends AstraZeneca for under 55

Canadian health officials said they would stop offering&nbsp;AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to people aged under 55 and require a new analysis of the shot's benefits and risks based on age and gender.

Manitoba and Quebec provinces were the first to heed the new National Advisory Committee on Immunization and Health (NACI) guidelines, with each region responsible for its own immunisation program.

"There is substantial uncertainty about the benefits of providing AstraZeneca vaccines to adults under 55 years of age,"&nbsp;Canada's deputy chief public health officer Howard Njoo told a news conference.

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"At this time, we are pausing the use of AstraZeneca vaccine to adults under 55 years of age, pending further risk-benefit analysis," he said.

Officials, meanwhile, urged Canadians who have received the AstraZeneca shot in the last 20 days to consult a doctor.

AstraZeneca&nbsp;said in a statement it respected NACI's decision and that it was working closely with Health Canada's assessment. The British drugmaker also reiterated that authorities in Britain, the European Union as well as the World Health Organization have found the product's benefits to significantly outweigh the risks across all adult age groups.

Njoo later noted that Canada was taking this "prudent" approach because alternative vaccines are available. Most of Canada's supply so far has come from Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc.

Older people face a greater risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19, and the complication seems to be rarer in that age group, NACI said, so they can be offered the vaccine "with informed consent."

Health Canada said in a statement it would add new terms and conditions to the vaccine's authorizations, including "a requirement that the manufacturers conduct a detailed assessment of the benefits and risks of the vaccine by age and sex in the Canadian context."

Health Canada said it had been in talks with&nbsp;AstraZeneca, and once it has the requested information, it "will determine if additional regulatory actions are necessary."

The NACI earlier this month urged giving AstraZeneca shots only to people aged 18 to 64, saying clinical trials hadn't included enough seniors, then revised its recommendation to include people of 65 and over after reviewing "real-world evidence" of its effectiveness in seniors.

The AstraZeneca vaccine candidate was approved for use in&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;in February, alongside Johnson &amp; Johnson, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots.

The moves follow reports from Europe of rare but serious blood clots, bleeding and in some cases death after vaccination, mainly in young women. No such cases have been reported in Canada, with about 307,000&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;doses administered.

Many European countries briefly stopped using the Anglo-Swedish firm's vaccine while investigating the blood clot incidents earlier this month. Canada continued to administer doses, arguing that the benefits of vaccination outweighed potential risks.

Nearly all countries have since resumed use of the&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;vaccine. But France broke with guidance from the European medical regulator and said on March 19 it should only be given to people aged 55 or older. France said the decision was based on evidence that the clotting affected younger people.

Canada is expecting another 1.5 million doses of the&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;vaccine this week from the United States, which has not yet authorized its use. Canada has ordered more than 20 million doses from&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;and&nbsp;Serum Institute of India.

Canadian health officials said they would stop offering AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to people aged under 55 and require a new analysis of the shot's benefits and risks based on age and gender.

Canadian health officials said they would stop offering AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to people aged under 55 and require a new analysis of the shot's benefits and risks based on age and gender. Manitoba and Quebec provinces were the first to heed the new National Advisory Committee on Immunization and Health (NACI) guidelines, with each region responsible for its own immunisation program. "There is substantial uncertainty about the benefits of providing AstraZeneca vaccines to adults under 55 years of age," Canada's deputy chief public health officer Howard Njoo told a news conference. "At this time, we are pausing the use of AstraZeneca vaccine to adults under 55 years of age, pending further risk-benefit analysis," he said. Officials, meanwhile, urged Canadians who have received the AstraZeneca shot in the last 20 days to consult a doctor. AstraZeneca said in a statement it respected NACI's decision and that it was working closely with Health Canada's assessment. The British drugmaker also reiterated that authorities in Britain, the European Union as well as the World Health Organization have found the product's benefits to significantly outweigh the risks across all adult age groups. Njoo later noted that Canada was taking this "prudent" approach because alternative vaccines are available. Most of Canada's supply so far has come from Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc. Older people face a greater risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19, and the complication seems to be rarer in that age group, NACI said, so they can be offered the vaccine "with informed consent." Health Canada said in a statement it would add new terms and conditions to the vaccine's authorizations, including "a requirement that the manufacturers conduct a detailed assessment of the benefits and risks of the vaccine by age and sex in the Canadian context." Health Canada said it had been in talks with AstraZeneca, and once it has the requested information, it "will determine if additional regulatory actions are necessary." The NACI earlier this month urged giving AstraZeneca shots only to people aged 18 to 64, saying clinical trials hadn't included enough seniors, then revised its recommendation to include people of 65 and over after reviewing "real-world evidence" of its effectiveness in seniors. The AstraZeneca vaccine candidate was approved for use in Canada in February, alongside Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots. The moves follow reports from Europe of rare but serious blood clots, bleeding and in some cases death after vaccination, mainly in young women. No such cases have been reported in Canada, with about 307,000 AstraZeneca doses administered. Many European countries briefly stopped using the Anglo-Swedish firm's vaccine while investigating the blood clot incidents earlier this month. Canada continued to administer doses, arguing that the benefits of vaccination outweighed potential risks. Nearly all countries have since resumed use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. But France broke with guidance from the European medical regulator and said on March 19 it should only be given to people aged 55 or older. France said the decision was based on evidence that the clotting affected younger people. Canada is expecting another 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine this week from the United States, which has not yet authorized its use. Canada has ordered more than 20 million doses from AstraZeneca and Serum Institute of India.

Canada to pause AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine use for those under 55

European Union Chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday that AstraZeneca needed to "catch up" on its COVID vaccine deliveries and could not export the vaccines out of the EU until the commitments are fulfilled.

"I think it is clear that first of all the company has to catch up, has to honour the contract it has with the European member states, before it can engage again in exporting vaccines," she told a news conference after an EU summit dominated by the bloc's struggling vaccination rollout.

These blunt words also threaten to deepen row with Britain as it is trying to secure AstraZeneca shipments from EU. This is being done to fill an abrupt hole in the supplies.

Brussels and London have both laid claim to vaccine stocks in an AstraZeneca factory in the Netherlands.

European Commission's stance of toughening rules on vaccine exports has not been received well in the UK but a joint statement by Britain and the EU said that both sides are looking to find a "win-win" solution.

(With AFP inputs)

European Union Chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday that AstraZeneca needed to "catch up" on its COVID vaccine deliveries and could not export the vaccines out of the EU until the commitments are fulfilled.

European Union Chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday that AstraZeneca needed to "catch up" on its COVID vaccine deliveries and could not export the vaccines out of the EU until the commitments are fulfilled. "I think it is clear that first of all the company has to catch up, has to honour the contract it has with the European member states, before it can engage again in exporting vaccines," she told a news conference after an EU summit dominated by the bloc's struggling vaccination rollout. These blunt words also threaten to deepen row with Britain as it is trying to secure AstraZeneca shipments from EU. This is being done to fill an abrupt hole in the supplies. Brussels and London have both laid claim to vaccine stocks in an AstraZeneca factory in the Netherlands. European Commission's stance of toughening rules on vaccine exports has not been received well in the UK but a joint statement by Britain and the EU said that both sides are looking to find a "win-win" solution. (With AFP inputs)

EU asks AstraZeneca to 'catch up' on COVID vaccine deliveries

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India has put a temporary hold on all major exports of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines made by the SII to meet domestic demand as infections rise.

Coronavirus Update: India is facing a a surge in COVID-19 cases

British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca has revised down the efficacy figure for its two-dose Covid vaccine following a clinical trial held across the United States, Peru and Chile.

The company now says its vaccine is 76 per cent effective rather than 79 per cent effective at preventing any kind of symptomatic Covid.&nbsp;The vaccine has been dogged by questions over its effectiveness and possible side-effects.

This month, more than a dozen countries temporarily suspended giving out the vaccine after reports linked it to a rare blood clotting disorder in a very small number of people. The European Union's drug regulator, however, said last week the vaccine was clearly safe, but people remain sceptical about its safety.

The updated 76 per cent efficacy rate compares with rates of about 95 per cent for vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna.

US health officials earlier in the week publically rebuked the drugmaker for using "outdated information" when calculating that the vaccine was 79 per cent effective.

AstraZeneca reiterated on Wednesday that the shot, developed with Oxford University, was 100 per cent effective against severe or critical forms of the disease. It also said the vaccine showed 86 per cent efficacy in adults 65 years and older.

The latest trial data was based on 190 infections and 32,449 participants in the United States, Chile and Peru, as compared to the earlier interim data -- 141 infections through February 17.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is, however, seen as crucial in tackling the spread of COVID-19 across the globe, not just due to limited vaccine supply but also because it is easier and cheaper to transport than rival shots. It has been granted conditional marketing or emergency use authorisation in more than 70 countries.

British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca has revised down the efficacy figure for its two-dose Covid vaccine following a clinical trial held across the United States, Peru and Chile.

British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca has revised down the efficacy figure for its two-dose Covid vaccine following a clinical trial held across the United States, Peru and Chile. The company now says its vaccine is 76 per cent effective rather than 79 per cent effective at preventing any kind of symptomatic Covid. The vaccine has been dogged by questions over its effectiveness and possible side-effects. This month, more than a dozen countries temporarily suspended giving out the vaccine after reports linked it to a rare blood clotting disorder in a very small number of people. The European Union's drug regulator, however, said last week the vaccine was clearly safe, but people remain sceptical about its safety. The updated 76 per cent efficacy rate compares with rates of about 95 per cent for vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. US health officials earlier in the week publically rebuked the drugmaker for using "outdated information" when calculating that the vaccine was 79 per cent effective. AstraZeneca reiterated on Wednesday that the shot, developed with Oxford University, was 100 per cent effective against severe or critical forms of the disease. It also said the vaccine showed 86 per cent efficacy in adults 65 years and older. The latest trial data was based on 190 infections and 32,449 participants in the United States, Chile and Peru, as compared to the earlier interim data -- 141 infections through February 17. The AstraZeneca vaccine is, however, seen as crucial in tackling the spread of COVID-19 across the globe, not just due to limited vaccine supply but also because it is easier and cheaper to transport than rival shots. It has been granted conditional marketing or emergency use authorisation in more than 70 countries.

AstraZeneca says Covid vaccine 76% effective in updated US trial data

A stockpile of 29 million doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine that were found languishing in a facility in Italy became the new flash point on Wednesday in the conflict between the pharmaceutical company and the European Union, as the bloc prepared to unveil stringent export restrictions primarily meant to stop drugmakers from sending doses abroad.

Italian authorities found the vaccines in a site visit, European Union officials said, at a factory near Rome that is contracted to fill and finish COVID-19 vaccine vials for AstraZeneca.

Italian authorities went to the site after receiving an alert from the European Commission, which found a discrepancy between what the company said it was producing in European Union facilities, and what the facilities themselves were reporting.

The presence of so many doses raised suspicions that the pharmaceutical company was trying to find a way to export them to Britain or elsewhere, something the bloc has demanded that AstraZeneca stop doing until the company fulfills its promises for deliveries.

The European Union was meant to receive more than 100 million vaccine doses from AstraZeneca in the first quarter of this year, but has received only 16.6 million. The supply shortage has helped to derail vaccination efforts across the 27 member countries and contributed to embarrassingly slow inoculation rates on the continent.

What has most irked the European Union is that AstraZeneca has been consistently delivering on its contract with Britain while letting the bloc take the brunt of its production failures that have diminished supplies. AstraZeneca has denied it has violated its EU contract. The bloc took the first step last week to litigate the issue by activating an amicable dispute mechanism with AstraZeneca, but there is no indication either party intends to take it to court.

The bloc tried to force AstraZeneca to deliver more doses by introducing a system of export authorizations on Feb. 1, but only one AstraZeneca shipment, a small batch headed to Australia, has been blocked since that came into force.

On Wednesday, the European Union introduced a stricter export-control plan that aims to crack down on exports, as the bloc fears AstraZeneca deliveries will also disappoint in the second quarter as the bloc confronts a third wave of infections and extended lockdowns.

EU officials said there was no evidence that the stockpile in Italy, first reported by the Italian daily La Stampa, was bound for Britain. They said the company, when confronted about the doses, said that 16 million doses were bound for the EU market and 13 million to countries under the Covax initiative that aims to get doses to poorer nations. Those latter exports would be exempt from EU controls, as they are deemed to be of humanitarian nature.

AstraZeneca did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The officials said they had asked AstraZeneca for additional information about where the active ingredient in the vaccine vials found in Italy had been manufactured — a question aimed at forcing the company to provide more information about its supply chain and production capacity.

For AstraZeneca, the dispute over the Italian doses was the latest in a series of communications blunders with health officials on both sides of the Atlantic that have soured the company’s relationship with several governments.

Some American officials learned about a snag in the company’s clinical trials last year from the news media. The company’s U.S. trial was paused for nearly seven weeks last fall, in part because AstraZeneca was slow to provide U.S. regulators with evidence that the vaccine had not caused a neurological illness. (Investigators later concluded the symptoms were not linked to the vaccine.)

But analysts believe that some of AstraZeneca’s manufacturing difficulties are also a reflection of the company’s ambitious global distribution plans. It had intended to make as many as three billion doses this year, in part by contracting its manufacturing to plants all over the world. Other vaccine makers, by contrast, are relying on only a few facilities.

That global network of factories, analysts said, had the potential to create complications in the company’s supply chain, though it is also part of what has made the vaccine so critical to the global vaccination effort.

A stockpile of 29 million doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine that were found languishing in a facility in Italy became the new flash point on Wednesday in the conflict between the pharmaceutical company and the European Union, as the bloc prepared to unveil stringent export restrictions primarily meant to stop drugmakers from sending doses abroad.

A stockpile of 29 million doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine that were found languishing in a facility in Italy became the new flash point on Wednesday in the conflict between the pharmaceutical company and the European Union, as the bloc prepared to unveil stringent export restrictions primarily meant to stop drugmakers from sending doses abroad. Italian authorities found the vaccines in a site visit, European Union officials said, at a factory near Rome that is contracted to fill and finish COVID-19 vaccine vials for AstraZeneca. Italian authorities went to the site after receiving an alert from the European Commission, which found a discrepancy between what the company said it was producing in European Union facilities, and what the facilities themselves were reporting. The presence of so many doses raised suspicions that the pharmaceutical company was trying to find a way to export them to Britain or elsewhere, something the bloc has demanded that AstraZeneca stop doing until the company fulfills its promises for deliveries. The European Union was meant to receive more than 100 million vaccine doses from AstraZeneca in the first quarter of this year, but has received only 16.6 million. The supply shortage has helped to derail vaccination efforts across the 27 member countries and contributed to embarrassingly slow inoculation rates on the continent. What has most irked the European Union is that AstraZeneca has been consistently delivering on its contract with Britain while letting the bloc take the brunt of its production failures that have diminished supplies. AstraZeneca has denied it has violated its EU contract. The bloc took the first step last week to litigate the issue by activating an amicable dispute mechanism with AstraZeneca, but there is no indication either party intends to take it to court. The bloc tried to force AstraZeneca to deliver more doses by introducing a system of export authorizations on Feb. 1, but only one AstraZeneca shipment, a small batch headed to Australia, has been blocked since that came into force. On Wednesday, the European Union introduced a stricter export-control plan that aims to crack down on exports, as the bloc fears AstraZeneca deliveries will also disappoint in the second quarter as the bloc confronts a third wave of infections and extended lockdowns. EU officials said there was no evidence that the stockpile in Italy, first reported by the Italian daily La Stampa, was bound for Britain. They said the company, when confronted about the doses, said that 16 million doses were bound for the EU market and 13 million to countries under the Covax initiative that aims to get doses to poorer nations. Those latter exports would be exempt from EU controls, as they are deemed to be of humanitarian nature. AstraZeneca did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The officials said they had asked AstraZeneca for additional information about where the active ingredient in the vaccine vials found in Italy had been manufactured — a question aimed at forcing the company to provide more information about its supply chain and production capacity. For AstraZeneca, the dispute over the Italian doses was the latest in a series of communications blunders with health officials on both sides of the Atlantic that have soured the company’s relationship with several governments. Some American officials learned about a snag in the company’s clinical trials last year from the news media. The company’s U.S. trial was paused for nearly seven weeks last fall, in part because AstraZeneca was slow to provide U.S. regulators with evidence that the vaccine had not caused a neurological illness. (Investigators later concluded the symptoms were not linked to the vaccine.) But analysts believe that some of AstraZeneca’s manufacturing difficulties are also a reflection of the company’s ambitious global distribution plans. It had intended to make as many as three billion doses this year, in part by contracting its manufacturing to plants all over the world. Other vaccine makers, by contrast, are relying on only a few facilities. That global network of factories, analysts said, had the potential to create complications in the company’s supply chain, though it is also part of what has made the vaccine so critical to the global vaccination effort.

Cache of 29 Million AstraZeneca doses in Italy raises EU suspicions

&nbsp;French authorities have launched an investigation into the death of a 26-year-old who passed away a few days after he received a shot of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccine.</a>

The 26-year-old was a medical student who died on March 18 in Nantes, 10 days after receiving a jab of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-prez-promises-faster-vaccine-roll-out-as-infections-explode-372556" hreflang="en">French Prez promises faster vaccine roll-out as infections 'explode'&nbsp;</a>

While an interrogation has been launched into the matter, the authorities have stressed that no link has been established yet between the death of the medical student and the AstraZeneca jab.

The authorities had carried out an autopsy on him a day after his death but the public prosecutor in Nantes, Pierre Sennes, said that “it was necessary to carry out further tests to determine the causes and circumstances of his death”.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/astrazeneca-to-release-more-data-after-us-raises-questions-on-shots-potential-372554" hreflang="en">AstraZeneca to release more data after US raises questions on shot's potential</a>

For now, the ANSM national drug safety watchdog has been informed about the death of the medical student “as part of our increased monitoring of thrombosis cases”, but stressed that no link has been established yet with AstraZeneca.

The watchdog also first stated the deceased’s age as 24, which the prosecutor’s office later corrected to be 26. “This death is the subject of an in-depth clinical investigation,” it said in a statement.

This news has come five days after France and several other European countries resumed AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccines. Earlier, several EU nations had suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine over reports of blood clots in a handful of people who had received a jab of this vaccine.

The WHO said reported rates of so-called thromboembolic events after Covid-19 vaccines were in line with the usual number of people suffering these conditions.

French authorities have launched an investigation into the death of a 26-year-old who passed away a few days after he received a shot of the coronavirus vaccine.

French authorities have launched an investigation into the death of a 26-year-old who passed away a few days after he received a shot of the coronavirus vaccine. The 26-year-old was a medical student who died on March 18 in Nantes, 10 days after receiving a jab of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine. Also read | French Prez promises faster vaccine roll-out as infections 'explode' While an interrogation has been launched into the matter, the authorities have stressed that no link has been established yet between the death of the medical student and the AstraZeneca jab. The authorities had carried out an autopsy on him a day after his death but the public prosecutor in Nantes, Pierre Sennes, said that “it was necessary to carry out further tests to determine the causes and circumstances of his death”. Also read | AstraZeneca to release more data after US raises questions on shot's potential For now, the ANSM national drug safety watchdog has been informed about the death of the medical student “as part of our increased monitoring of thrombosis cases”, but stressed that no link has been established yet with AstraZeneca. The watchdog also first stated the deceased’s age as 24, which the prosecutor’s office later corrected to be 26. “This death is the subject of an in-depth clinical investigation,” it said in a statement. This news has come five days after France and several other European countries resumed AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccines. Earlier, several EU nations had suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine over reports of blood clots in a handful of people who had received a jab of this vaccine. The WHO said reported rates of so-called thromboembolic events after Covid-19 vaccines were in line with the usual number of people suffering these conditions.

France launches investigation into death of student who got AstraZeneca vaccine

Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said Tuesday it will release further data "within 48 hours" on trials in the United States of its Covid-19 vaccine, after health officials raised concerns about initial information disclosed.

"We have reviewed the preliminary assessment of the primary analysis and the results were consistent with the interim analysis," the company said in a statement.

"We intend to issue results of the primary analysis within 48 hours."

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/astrazeneca-may-have-included-outdated-data-in-vaccine-trials-us-regulator-372491" hreflang="en">AstraZeneca may have included 'outdated' data in vaccine trials: US regulator</a>

AstraZeneca&nbsp;may have released outdated information on its latest COVID-19 vaccine trial, giving an "incomplete" picture of its efficacy, a leading US&nbsp;health agency said on Tuesday, casting doubt on the shot's potential US&nbsp;rollout and plunging its developers, once again, into controversy.

The surprise public rebuke from federal health officials comes just one day after interim data from the drugmaker showed better-than-expected results from the US&nbsp;trial. That had been seen as a scientific counter to concerns that have dogged the shot over its effectiveness and possible side effects.

The vaccine, developed with Oxford University, was 79 per cent effective in preventing symptomatic illness in the large trial that also took place in Chile and Peru, according to the data. It was also 100 per cent&nbsp;effective against severe or critical forms of the disease and hospitalisation, and posed no increased risk of blood clots.

The Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), an independent committee overseeing the trial, has "expressed concern that&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;may have included outdated information from that trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data," the US&nbsp;National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) said in a statement released after midnight in the United States.

"We urge the company to work with the DSMB to review the efficacy data and ensure the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as quickly as possible," it said, adding that the DSMB had informed&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;of its concerns.

AstraZeneca's shares were down 1.2 per cent&nbsp;in midmorning trade.

The statement raises fresh questions about the vaccine's efficacy as it is being administered in dozens of countries worldwide and clouds the timeline for its emergency use authorization in the United States.

"This is indeed an extraordinary act. The negative reports about this vaccine do not stop, although my assessment is that it is well tolerated and safe, but clearly less effective than the two mRNA vaccines," Peter Kremsner, from the University Hospital in Tuebingen, Germany.

Rival vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna that use so-called mRNA technology produced efficacy rates of around 95% each, far above the 50% benchmark set by global regulators.

The DSMB is organised by NIAID, and its role is to provide study oversight and evaluate clinical data to ensure safe and ethical conduct of the study. NIAID is headed by U.S. infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci and is part of the National Institutes of Health.

"DSMB externalisations of concerns are deeply unusual for multinational pharma companies and suggest an extraordinary high level of friction between the DSMB and the sponsor," Citi analysts said in a note.

Doubts raised

Hailed as a milestone in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic when it first emerged as a vaccine contender, the&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;shot has faced questions since late last year when the drugmaker and Oxford University published data with different efficacy readings due to a measurement error.

Later analysis suggested the dosing interval rather than the amount of dose administered was responsible for the difference.

Confidence in the vaccine took a further hit this month when more than a dozen countries, mostly in Europe, temporarily suspended the shot after reports linked it to a rare blood clotting disorder in a very small number of people.

The European Union's drug regulator said last week it was safe but an opinion poll on Monday showed Europeans remained sceptical about its safety.

Fauci, who also serves as chief medical advisor to US&nbsp;President Joe Biden, said on Monday the US&nbsp;trial found no indication at all of the rare blood clots and the statement from the NIAID didn't raise questions about the trial's findings regarding blood clotting.

The latest data, which has yet to be reviewed by independent researchers, was based on 141 infections among 32,449 participants.

Analysts had noted&nbsp;AstraZeneca's achievement of producing strong trial data against a backdrop of more infectious variants spreading in the United States and other countries.

Stephen Evans, a pharmacoepidemiology professor at London School of Hygiene &amp; Tropical Medicine, said the up-to-date data request may have to do with efficacy readings from recent infections which may include new variants and thus lower protection rates.

"The other vaccines may also show such reduced efficacy and we don’t know by how much. It does not leave me concerned particularly unless they had found a safety issue that was being hidden, which does not appear to be the case."

The&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;vaccine is seen as crucial in tackling the spread of COVID-19 across the globe because it is easier and cheaper to transport than rival shots.

It has been granted conditional marketing or emergency use authorization in more than 70 countries. Many countries are relying heavily on it to end the pandemic, and several state leaders have taken the shot to boost confidence in the vaccine including South Korea's President Moon Jae-in who received it on Tuesday.

Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said Tuesday it will release further data "within 48 hours" on trials in the United States of its Covid-19 vaccine, after health officials raised concerns about initial information disclosed.

Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said Tuesday it will release further data "within 48 hours" on trials in the United States of its Covid-19 vaccine, after health officials raised concerns about initial information disclosed. "We have reviewed the preliminary assessment of the primary analysis and the results were consistent with the interim analysis," the company said in a statement. "We intend to issue results of the primary analysis within 48 hours." Also read| AstraZeneca may have included 'outdated' data in vaccine trials: US regulator AstraZeneca may have released outdated information on its latest COVID-19 vaccine trial, giving an "incomplete" picture of its efficacy, a leading US health agency said on Tuesday, casting doubt on the shot's potential US rollout and plunging its developers, once again, into controversy. The surprise public rebuke from federal health officials comes just one day after interim data from the drugmaker showed better-than-expected results from the US trial. That had been seen as a scientific counter to concerns that have dogged the shot over its effectiveness and possible side effects. The vaccine, developed with Oxford University, was 79 per cent effective in preventing symptomatic illness in the large trial that also took place in Chile and Peru, according to the data. It was also 100 per cent effective against severe or critical forms of the disease and hospitalisation, and posed no increased risk of blood clots. The Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), an independent committee overseeing the trial, has "expressed concern that AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from that trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data," the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) said in a statement released after midnight in the United States. "We urge the company to work with the DSMB to review the efficacy data and ensure the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as quickly as possible," it said, adding that the DSMB had informed AstraZeneca of its concerns. AstraZeneca's shares were down 1.2 per cent in midmorning trade. The statement raises fresh questions about the vaccine's efficacy as it is being administered in dozens of countries worldwide and clouds the timeline for its emergency use authorization in the United States. "This is indeed an extraordinary act. The negative reports about this vaccine do not stop, although my assessment is that it is well tolerated and safe, but clearly less effective than the two mRNA vaccines," Peter Kremsner, from the University Hospital in Tuebingen, Germany. Rival vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna that use so-called mRNA technology produced efficacy rates of around 95% each, far above the 50% benchmark set by global regulators. The DSMB is organised by NIAID, and its role is to provide study oversight and evaluate clinical data to ensure safe and ethical conduct of the study. NIAID is headed by U.S. infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci and is part of the National Institutes of Health. "DSMB externalisations of concerns are deeply unusual for multinational pharma companies and suggest an extraordinary high level of friction between the DSMB and the sponsor," Citi analysts said in a note. Doubts raised Hailed as a milestone in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic when it first emerged as a vaccine contender, the AstraZeneca shot has faced questions since late last year when the drugmaker and Oxford University published data with different efficacy readings due to a measurement error. Later analysis suggested the dosing interval rather than the amount of dose administered was responsible for the difference. Confidence in the vaccine took a further hit this month when more than a dozen countries, mostly in Europe, temporarily suspended the shot after reports linked it to a rare blood clotting disorder in a very small number of people. The European Union's drug regulator said last week it was safe but an opinion poll on Monday showed Europeans remained sceptical about its safety. Fauci, who also serves as chief medical advisor to US President Joe Biden, said on Monday the US trial found no indication at all of the rare blood clots and the statement from the NIAID didn't raise questions about the trial's findings regarding blood clotting. The latest data, which has yet to be reviewed by independent researchers, was based on 141 infections among 32,449 participants. Analysts had noted AstraZeneca's achievement of producing strong trial data against a backdrop of more infectious variants spreading in the United States and other countries. Stephen Evans, a pharmacoepidemiology professor at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said the up-to-date data request may have to do with efficacy readings from recent infections which may include new variants and thus lower protection rates. "The other vaccines may also show such reduced efficacy and we don’t know by how much. It does not leave me concerned particularly unless they had found a safety issue that was being hidden, which does not appear to be the case." The AstraZeneca vaccine is seen as crucial in tackling the spread of COVID-19 across the globe because it is easier and cheaper to transport than rival shots. It has been granted conditional marketing or emergency use authorization in more than 70 countries. Many countries are relying heavily on it to end the pandemic, and several state leaders have taken the shot to boost confidence in the vaccine including South Korea's President Moon Jae-in who received it on Tuesday.

AstraZeneca to release more data after US raises questions on shot's potential

In a fresh set back for AstraZeneca, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the US said that AstraZeneca may have included out-of-date information during trials of its COVID-19 vaccine.

US Agency: AstraZeneca may have included outdated data

According to the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-risk-of-blood-clots-vaccine-100-effective-against-severe-coronavirus-astrazeneca-372252">AstraZeneca</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-risk-of-blood-clots-vaccine-100-effective-against-severe-coronavirus-astrazeneca-372252"> </a>may have provided an incomplete view of efficacy data for&nbsp;its COVID-19 vaccine from its trial in the United States.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/no-pork-in-our-vaccine-clarifies-astrazeneca-as-indonesia-raises-concern-372168/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), an independent committee overseeing the trial, has expressed concern that AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from that trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data," NIAID said in a statement.&nbsp;

NIAID is headed by US infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci and is part of the National Institutes of Health with the AstraZeneca vaccine under scanner by health officials.

The vaccine developed by Oxford University is 80 per cent effective against the virus among the elderly, and poses no blood clot risks, the company had said on Tuesday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel while announcing a five-day lockdown in the country had said she backed the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's decision to ban AstraZeneca vaccines produced in the bloc from being exported unless it delivers more of the 90 million doses it agreed to supply in the first quarter of 2021.&nbsp;

"I support Commission President Ursula von der Leyen," Merkel said, adding, "We have a problem with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/astrazeneca-clarifies-its-vaccine-has-no-pork-derived-ingredients-372044">AstraZeneca</a>."

However, according to British pollsters YouGov, a majority of people in the biggest EU states view the AstraZeneca vaccine as unsafe.

According to the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), AstraZeneca may have provided an incomplete view of efficacy data for its COVID-19 vaccine from its trial in the United States.

According to the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), AstraZeneca may have provided an incomplete view of efficacy data for its COVID-19 vaccine from its trial in the United States. Watch: "The Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), an independent committee overseeing the trial, has expressed concern that AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from that trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data," NIAID said in a statement. NIAID is headed by US infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci and is part of the National Institutes of Health with the AstraZeneca vaccine under scanner by health officials. The vaccine developed by Oxford University is 80 per cent effective against the virus among the elderly, and poses no blood clot risks, the company had said on Tuesday. German Chancellor Angela Merkel while announcing a five-day lockdown in the country had said she backed the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's decision to ban AstraZeneca vaccines produced in the bloc from being exported unless it delivers more of the 90 million doses it agreed to supply in the first quarter of 2021. "I support Commission President Ursula von der Leyen," Merkel said, adding, "We have a problem with AstraZeneca." However, according to British pollsters YouGov, a majority of people in the biggest EU states view the AstraZeneca vaccine as unsafe.

AstraZeneca may have included 'outdated' data in vaccine trials: US regulator

AstraZeneca has said its COVID-19 vaccine does not contain any pork-derived ingredients. AstraZeneca's Indonesia director Rizman Abudaeri said, “At all stages of the production process, this virus vector vaccine does not use nor come in contact with pork-derived products or other animal products.”

'No pork in our vaccine', clarifies AstraZeneca as Indonesia raises concern

Confidence in the safety of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine has taken a hit in European countries. After reports of rare blood clots made the news, people’s confidence in the vaccine dipped especially in Spain, Germany, France, and Italy, poll data shows.

YouGov conducted the poll which found that even by late February, Europeans were wary of the AstraZeneca jab, as opposed to vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. Reports of blood clots from vaccines had severely damaged the public perception surrounding the vaccine.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-19-vaccine-european-union-drug-regulator-says-astrazeneca-jab-is-safe-371559/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Over the last two weeks, 13 European countries halted the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, which was developed in collaboration with Oxford University.

On Thursday, the European Medicines Agency conducted a review and said that the vaccine was safe and effective, and not directly linked to blood clots. Since then, many countries have resumed its use. Even then, the European regulator did not completely rule out any potential link to blood clots known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis or CVST.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/astrazeneca-clarifies-its-vaccine-has-no-pork-derived-ingredients-372044" hreflang="en">AstraZeneca clarifies its vaccine has no pork-derived ingredients</a>

The poll took into account 8,000 people across seven European countries between March 12 and 18 and found that people in France, Germany, Spain, and Italy where people now see the vaccine as unsafe.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/two-cases-of-blood-clots-reported-after-astrazeneca-shot-in-denmark-371914" hreflang="en">Two cases of blood clots reported after AstraZeneca shot in Denmark</a>

The vaccine made by AstraZeneca was already unpopular, and now continues to dip in the eyes of people. 55 per cent Germans said that the vaccine is unsafe. In France, 61 per cent said that the vaccine remains unsafe, while in Italy and Spain 36 per cent and 38 per cent respectively deem the jab unsafe.

It is only in Britain that the blood clot concern had no effect on the vaccine’s rep, where 77 per cent people believe the shot is safe. In addition, 79 per cent Britons believe Pfizer is safe for use.

Confidence in the safety of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine has taken a hit in European countries. After reports of rare blood clots made the news, people’s confidence in the vaccine dipped especially in Spain, Germany, France, and Italy, poll data shows.

Confidence in the safety of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine has taken a hit in European countries. After reports of rare blood clots made the news, people’s confidence in the vaccine dipped especially in Spain, Germany, France, and Italy, poll data shows. YouGov conducted the poll which found that even by late February, Europeans were wary of the AstraZeneca jab, as opposed to vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. Reports of blood clots from vaccines had severely damaged the public perception surrounding the vaccine. Over the last two weeks, 13 European countries halted the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, which was developed in collaboration with Oxford University. On Thursday, the European Medicines Agency conducted a review and said that the vaccine was safe and effective, and not directly linked to blood clots. Since then, many countries have resumed its use. Even then, the European regulator did not completely rule out any potential link to blood clots known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis or CVST. Also read: AstraZeneca clarifies its vaccine has no pork-derived ingredients The poll took into account 8,000 people across seven European countries between March 12 and 18 and found that people in France, Germany, Spain, and Italy where people now see the vaccine as unsafe. Also read: Two cases of blood clots reported after AstraZeneca shot in Denmark The vaccine made by AstraZeneca was already unpopular, and now continues to dip in the eyes of people. 55 per cent Germans said that the vaccine is unsafe. In France, 61 per cent said that the vaccine remains unsafe, while in Italy and Spain 36 per cent and 38 per cent respectively deem the jab unsafe. It is only in Britain that the blood clot concern had no effect on the vaccine’s rep, where 77 per cent people believe the shot is safe. In addition, 79 per cent Britons believe Pfizer is safe for use.

Public faith in AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine across Europe dips: Poll

AstraZeneca on Monday announced that its COVID-19 vaccine is 80 per cent effective against the virus among the elderly, and poses no blood clot risks. The numbers came in after phase III trials in the US, as European countries shun AstraZeneca vaccines for fears of blood clots.

Among the overall population, the vaccine was 79 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic coronavirus.&nbsp;In terms of preventing severe disease and hospitalisation, the vaccine showed 100 per cent efficacy.

The US phase III trials of the vaccines developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University had 32,449 participants, out of whom two thirds received the jab, the company’s statement said. Out of these 20 per cent were aged 65 and above, while 60 per cent had health conditions that pose a high risk of severe case of COVID-19.

Also read: P<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/public-faith-in-astrazenecas-covid-19-vaccine-across-europe-dips-poll-372147" hreflang="en">ublic faith in AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine across Europe dips: Poll</a>

"These findings reconfirm previous results observed in AZD1222 trials across all adult populations but it's exciting to see similar efficacy results in people over 65 for the first time," wrote Ann Falsey, a professor of medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, who also led the trials. 
 
"This analysis validates the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as a much-needed additional vaccination option, offering confidence that adults of all ages can benefit from protection against the virus”, the statement added.

In addition, no risks of clots was found among 21,583 participants who had received at least one dose.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/astrazeneca-clarifies-its-vaccine-has-no-pork-derived-ingredients-372044" hreflang="en">AstraZeneca clarifies its vaccine has no pork-derived ingredients</a> 
 
Confidence in the safety of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine has taken a hit in European countries. After reports of rare blood clots made the news, people’s confidence in the vaccine dipped especially in Spain, Germany, France, and Italy, poll data shows.

YouGov conducted the poll which found that even by late February, Europeans were wary of the AstraZeneca jab, as opposed to vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. Reports of blood clots from vaccines had severely damaged the public perception surrounding the vaccine.

AstraZeneca on Monday announced that its COVID-19 vaccine is 80 per cent effective against the virus among the elderly, and poses no blood clot risks. The numbers came in after phase III trials in the US, as European countries shun AstraZeneca vaccines for fears of blood clots.

AstraZeneca on Monday announced that its COVID-19 vaccine is 80 per cent effective against the virus among the elderly, and poses no blood clot risks. The numbers came in after phase III trials in the US, as European countries shun AstraZeneca vaccines for fears of blood clots. Among the overall population, the vaccine was 79 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic coronavirus. In terms of preventing severe disease and hospitalisation, the vaccine showed 100 per cent efficacy. The US phase III trials of the vaccines developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University had 32,449 participants, out of whom two thirds received the jab, the company’s statement said. Out of these 20 per cent were aged 65 and above, while 60 per cent had health conditions that pose a high risk of severe case of COVID-19. Also read: Public faith in AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine across Europe dips: Poll "These findings reconfirm previous results observed in AZD1222 trials across all adult populations but it's exciting to see similar efficacy results in people over 65 for the first time," wrote Ann Falsey, a professor of medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, who also led the trials. "This analysis validates the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as a much-needed additional vaccination option, offering confidence that adults of all ages can benefit from protection against the virus”, the statement added. In addition, no risks of clots was found among 21,583 participants who had received at least one dose. Also read: AstraZeneca clarifies its vaccine has no pork-derived ingredients Confidence in the safety of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine has taken a hit in European countries. After reports of rare blood clots made the news, people’s confidence in the vaccine dipped especially in Spain, Germany, France, and Italy, poll data shows. YouGov conducted the poll which found that even by late February, Europeans were wary of the AstraZeneca jab, as opposed to vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. Reports of blood clots from vaccines had severely damaged the public perception surrounding the vaccine.

No risk of blood clots, vaccine 100% effective against severe coronavirus: AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca has countered an assertion doing the rounds in Indonesia, clarifying its COVID-19 vaccine does not contain any pork-derived ingredients.

Indonesia’s highest Muslim clerical council, the Indonesia Ulema Council, said on its website Friday that the vaccine is "haram" because the manufacturing process uses "trypsin from the pork pancreas."

Still, the council approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for use given the pandemic emergency.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-renews-backing-for-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-371857">Also read |&nbsp;WHO renews backing for AstraZeneca Covid vaccine</a>

To this end, AstraZeneca Indonesia spokesman Rizman Abudaeri said in a statement: "At all stages of the production process, this virus vector vaccine does not use nor come in contact with pork-derived products or other animal products."

Indonesia is grappling with one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Asia – with 1,455,788 cases and 39,447 deaths as of Saturday. Authorities in the country on Friday approved the use of the vaccine after reviewing reports that it had caused blood clots among some recipients in Europe.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-countries-to-resume-astrazeneca-jabs-after-safe-verdict-371547">Also read |&nbsp;EU countries to resume AstraZeneca jabs after 'safe' verdict</a>

AstraZeneca has countered an assertion doing the rounds in Indonesia, clarifying its COVID-19 vaccine does not contain any pork-derived ingredients. Indonesia’s highest Muslim clerical council, the Indonesia Ulema Council, said on its website Friday that the vaccine is "haram" because the manufacturing process uses "trypsin from the pork pancreas.

AstraZeneca has countered an assertion doing the rounds in Indonesia, clarifying its COVID-19 vaccine does not contain any pork-derived ingredients. Indonesia’s highest Muslim clerical council, the Indonesia Ulema Council, said on its website Friday that the vaccine is "haram" because the manufacturing process uses "trypsin from the pork pancreas." Still, the council approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for use given the pandemic emergency. Also read | WHO renews backing for AstraZeneca Covid vaccine To this end, AstraZeneca Indonesia spokesman Rizman Abudaeri said in a statement: "At all stages of the production process, this virus vector vaccine does not use nor come in contact with pork-derived products or other animal products." Indonesia is grappling with one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Asia – with 1,455,788 cases and 39,447 deaths as of Saturday. Authorities in the country on Friday approved the use of the vaccine after reviewing reports that it had caused blood clots among some recipients in Europe. Also read | EU countries to resume AstraZeneca jabs after 'safe' verdict

AstraZeneca clarifies its vaccine has no pork-derived ingredients

The Finnish health authority THL announced on Friday it will pause the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Finland for at least a week, following two reports of blood clots in patients who had received the jab.

Citing the "precautionary principle," the THL decided to suspend the vaccine with immediate effect "until there is more information about the case and possible causality can be evaluated", the agency said in a statement.

The decision comes a day after Europe's medicines regulator concluded the vaccine was "safe and effective".&nbsp;

Use of the vaccine will not resume before March 29, due to reports to Finland's medical regulator Fimea "of two cases of cerebral thrombosis 4-10 days after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine", the statement said.

The agency noted however that the observed symptoms were "extremely rare" and said there was "currently no certainty" about a causal link to the vaccine.

On Thursday, many European countries said they would resume use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, after the European Medicines Agency found the jab was "not associated" with reports of patients suffering blood clots following its use.&nbsp;

A total of 13 European countries had suspended use of the vaccine, although Finland was not among them.

The Finnish health authority THL announced on Friday it will pause the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Finland for at least a week, following two reports of blood clots in patients who had received the jab.

The Finnish health authority THL announced on Friday it will pause the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Finland for at least a week, following two reports of blood clots in patients who had received the jab. Citing the "precautionary principle," the THL decided to suspend the vaccine with immediate effect "until there is more information about the case and possible causality can be evaluated", the agency said in a statement. The decision comes a day after Europe's medicines regulator concluded the vaccine was "safe and effective". Use of the vaccine will not resume before March 29, due to reports to Finland's medical regulator Fimea "of two cases of cerebral thrombosis 4-10 days after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine", the statement said. The agency noted however that the observed symptoms were "extremely rare" and said there was "currently no certainty" about a causal link to the vaccine. On Thursday, many European countries said they would resume use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, after the European Medicines Agency found the jab was "not associated" with reports of patients suffering blood clots following its use. A total of 13 European countries had suspended use of the vaccine, although Finland was not among them.

Finland pauses AstraZeneca jab despite EMA 'safe' finding

Finland suspends AstraZeneca jab despite EMA 'safe' finding

Denmark on Saturday reported two cases of hospital staff with blood clots and cerebral haemorrhage after receiving the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccination.&nbsp;

The Capital Region of Denmark, the authority that runs public hospitals in Copenhagen, said one of the hospital staff had died and both had received the AstraZeneca vaccine less than 14 days before getting ill.&nbsp;

The Danish medicines agency confirmed it had received two 'serious reports', without giving further details.&nbsp;

There were no details of when the hospital staff got ill.&nbsp;

Some countries including Germany and France this week reversed their decision to temporarily pause use of the AstraZeneca vaccine after reports of cases of rare brain blood clots sent scientists and governments scrambling to determine any link.&nbsp;

Denmark, which put use of the vaccine on hold on March 11, has not yet resumed use.&nbsp;

The European Union's drug watchdog said on Thursday, it is still convinced the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks following an investigation into reports of blood clots that prompted more than a dozen nations to suspend its use.&nbsp;

European Medicines Agency (EMA) director Emer Cooke said on Thursday, the watchdog could not definitively rule out a link between blood clot incidents and the vaccine in its investigation into 30 cases of a rare blood clotting condition.&nbsp;

But she said the 'clear' conclusion of the review was that the benefits in protecting people from the risk of death or hospitalisation outweighs the possible risks. The issue deserves further analysis, the EMA said.&nbsp;

AstraZeneca, which developed the shot with Oxford University, has said a review covering more than 17 million people, who had received its shots in the EU and Britain had found no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Denmark on Saturday reported two cases of hospital staff with blood clots and cerebral haemorrhage after receiving the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccination. The Capital Region of Denmark, the authority that runs public hospitals in Copenhagen, said one of the hospital staff had died and both had received the AstraZeneca vaccine less than 14 days before getting ill.

Denmark on Saturday reported two cases of hospital staff with blood clots and cerebral haemorrhage after receiving the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccination. The Capital Region of Denmark, the authority that runs public hospitals in Copenhagen, said one of the hospital staff had died and both had received the AstraZeneca vaccine less than 14 days before getting ill. The Danish medicines agency confirmed it had received two 'serious reports', without giving further details. There were no details of when the hospital staff got ill. Some countries including Germany and France this week reversed their decision to temporarily pause use of the AstraZeneca vaccine after reports of cases of rare brain blood clots sent scientists and governments scrambling to determine any link. Denmark, which put use of the vaccine on hold on March 11, has not yet resumed use. The European Union's drug watchdog said on Thursday, it is still convinced the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks following an investigation into reports of blood clots that prompted more than a dozen nations to suspend its use. European Medicines Agency (EMA) director Emer Cooke said on Thursday, the watchdog could not definitively rule out a link between blood clot incidents and the vaccine in its investigation into 30 cases of a rare blood clotting condition. But she said the 'clear' conclusion of the review was that the benefits in protecting people from the risk of death or hospitalisation outweighs the possible risks. The issue deserves further analysis, the EMA said. AstraZeneca, which developed the shot with Oxford University, has said a review covering more than 17 million people, who had received its shots in the EU and Britain had found no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots. (With inputs from agencies)

Two cases of blood clots reported after AstraZeneca shot in Denmark 

Leading EU countries are set to resume AstraZeneca vaccinations after the European medical regulator said the jab was "safe and effective" and not associated with a higher blood clot risk.

The announcement from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) came after the WHO and Britain's health watchdog both said it was far riskier to not get the shot as several countries face a worrying rise in coronavirus cases.&nbsp;Several European countries, to this end, said they would soon resume vaccinations.

The list of these countries includes Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia and Bulgaria.

EMA chief Emer Cooke said Thursday that its "committee has come to a clear scientific conclusion: this is a safe and effective vaccine" after an investigation into the AstraZeneca jab.

"The committee also concluded that the vaccine is not associated with an increase in the overall risk of thromboembolic events or blood clots," she added.

However,&nbsp;the agency said it "cannot rule out definitively" a link to a rare clotting disorder.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The UK health regulator also said there were no links between blood clots and the Pfizer vaccine.&nbsp;

The World Health Organisation (WHO) repeated that it was better to take the AstraZeneca vaccine than not.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-uk-regulator-shrug-off-astrazeneca-vaccine-concerns-371478">Also read |&nbsp;EU, UK regulator shrug off AstraZeneca vaccine concerns</a>

AstraZeneca's chief medical officer Ann Taylor said that "vaccine safety is paramount and we welcome the regulators' decisions which affirm the overwhelming benefit of our vaccine in stopping the pandemic".

Norway and Sweden, however, said they were not ready to resume using the vaccine. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health said it "took note" of the EMA's ruling, but it was "premature" to draw conclusions and it would announce its own opinion by the end of next week.

Meanwhile, France on Thursday became the latest nation to toughen Covid restrictions, announcing a month-long limited lockdown for Paris and several other regions to try and stave off a third wave of infections that has overwhelmed hospitals.&nbsp;

The measures fall short of a full-blown lockdown, but will see non-essential shops closed and outdoor movement restricted in the affected regions, while schools are to stay open.&nbsp;

French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced the new measures as well as saying he would get the AstraZeneca vaccine "to show that we can have complete confidence in it".

Bulgaria and Ukraine also readied for tougher restrictions to stem rising cases, while the WHO issued a grim update on ballooning infections in Central Europe and the Balkans.

Italy, the first European country to become engulfed by the pandemic, held a national day of mourning Thursday, with a ceremony in Bergamo, the northern city that became known as "Italy's Wuhan" -- the Chinese city where the first Covid-19 cases were identified.

Italy chose March 18 for the memorial to coincide with the day in 2020 when the army had to step in to carry away scores of coffins from Bergamo's overwhelmed crematorium.

(with inputs from agencies)

Leading EU countries are set to resume AstraZeneca vaccinations after the European medical regulator said the jab was "safe and effective" and not associated with a higher blood clot risk.

Leading EU countries are set to resume AstraZeneca vaccinations after the European medical regulator said the jab was "safe and effective" and not associated with a higher blood clot risk. The announcement from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) came after the WHO and Britain's health watchdog both said it was far riskier to not get the shot as several countries face a worrying rise in coronavirus cases. Several European countries, to this end, said they would soon resume vaccinations. The list of these countries includes Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia and Bulgaria. EMA chief Emer Cooke said Thursday that its "committee has come to a clear scientific conclusion: this is a safe and effective vaccine" after an investigation into the AstraZeneca jab. "The committee also concluded that the vaccine is not associated with an increase in the overall risk of thromboembolic events or blood clots," she added. However, the agency said it "cannot rule out definitively" a link to a rare clotting disorder. The UK health regulator also said there were no links between blood clots and the Pfizer vaccine. The World Health Organisation (WHO) repeated that it was better to take the AstraZeneca vaccine than not. Also read | EU, UK regulator shrug off AstraZeneca vaccine concerns AstraZeneca's chief medical officer Ann Taylor said that "vaccine safety is paramount and we welcome the regulators' decisions which affirm the overwhelming benefit of our vaccine in stopping the pandemic". Norway and Sweden, however, said they were not ready to resume using the vaccine. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health said it "took note" of the EMA's ruling, but it was "premature" to draw conclusions and it would announce its own opinion by the end of next week. Meanwhile, France on Thursday became the latest nation to toughen Covid restrictions, announcing a month-long limited lockdown for Paris and several other regions to try and stave off a third wave of infections that has overwhelmed hospitals. The measures fall short of a full-blown lockdown, but will see non-essential shops closed and outdoor movement restricted in the affected regions, while schools are to stay open. French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced the new measures as well as saying he would get the AstraZeneca vaccine "to show that we can have complete confidence in it". Bulgaria and Ukraine also readied for tougher restrictions to stem rising cases, while the WHO issued a grim update on ballooning infections in Central Europe and the Balkans. Italy, the first European country to become engulfed by the pandemic, held a national day of mourning Thursday, with a ceremony in Bergamo, the northern city that became known as "Italy's Wuhan" -- the Chinese city where the first Covid-19 cases were identified. Italy chose March 18 for the memorial to coincide with the day in 2020 when the army had to step in to carry away scores of coffins from Bergamo's overwhelmed crematorium. (with inputs from agencies)

EU countries to resume AstraZeneca jabs after 'safe' verdict

AstraZeneca jab had left the European Union completely divided over the fear of blood clotting which could lead to further complications resulting in death. But now the European Medicine Agency has confirmed that the vaccine is actually pretty safe.

COVID-19 Vaccine: European Union drug regulator says AstraZeneca jab is safe

European Medicine Agency is set to reveal its findings on the AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccine, which have left the European Nations divided over blood clot fears.

WION Fineprint: European Medicine Agency to reveal its findings on AstraZeneca jab soon

India has said that it is going ahead with administring the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and will continue to roll out the shot in its huge immunisation programme "with full vigour".

India: AstraZeneca vaccinations will go on with full vigour

PARIS — It’s said that the European Union grows stronger through crises. The bloc’s attempt at a coordinated vaccination program, less a rollout than a roller coaster, has tested that theory, and now the suspension of the AstraZeneca shots in many countries threatens to turn widespread disarray into an outright debacle.

“I feel like we are being used as guinea pigs,” said Khady Ballo, 21, a law student in the southern French town of Montpellier. “I would not get the AstraZeneca vaccine even if it is approved again.”

Although it seems likely that the European Medicines Agency, the 27-member union’s top drug regulator, will quickly pronounce the AstraZeneca vaccine safe, millions of Europeans have been shaken by the back-and-forth and will be more hesitant about vaccination.

“Before this, I was so pro-vaccines I would have dipped children into them,” said Maria Grazia Del Pero, 62, who works in tourism in Milan. But now, “I would not get AstraZeneca because that would be like playing Russian roulette.”

Providing vaccines for the EU’s 450 million people was never going to be a simple task, especially as the union hardly had a coordinated health policy before the pandemic. But bureaucratic delay and confusion in procuring vaccines from pharmaceutical companies, followed by slow authorization, followed by delivery problems, followed by the sudden panic over the AstraZeneca shot, has left European governments on the defensive and Europeans reeling.

In France, the government has swerved from lauding the AstraZeneca inoculation a few days ago to suspending it. The reaction to this confusion was swift, even if the government insists there is no established medical cause for fear. A poll by the Elabe Institute published Tuesday showed that only 20% of French people now trust the AstraZeneca vaccine, with 58% skeptical, and 22% undecided.

“I trust AstraZeneca, I trust the vaccines,” Ursula von der Leyen, the top EU official, said at a news conference in Brussels. But reassuring words may not persuade Europeans experiencing policy whiplash.

In a clear attempt to shore up shaken confidence, Jean Castex, the French prime minister, told BFM TV he would himself get the AstraZeneca vaccine “as soon as the green light is given.” He had not previously spoken of doing this.

“The trust of Italians is deeply compromised, not only toward the AstraZeneca vaccine but also toward the authorities,” Roberto Burioni, a leading Italian virus expert, said. “These sudden and inexplicable changes in decisions create concerns everywhere.” Even an “all good” verdict from the European Medicines Agency, likely Thursday, “will not be enough.”

Concerns about the shot are based on a small number of recipients who developed blood clots or abnormal bleeding. But researchers and drug regulators say they have seen no evidence of an increase in such complications or a connection to the inoculation.

AstraZeneca said this week that a review of more than 17 million people who had received its vaccine found that they were actually less likely than the general population to develop dangerous clots.

European countries, led by France and Germany, have been torn between a strong desire to avoid what they call “vaccination nationalism,” and the realization that the EU was not fully prepared for an operation on this scale. If integration of the bloc’s health policy has been fast-forwarded, with possible long-term benefits, lives have also been lost.

The sight of Britain powering ahead with vaccinations — more than 26 million doses have been given, more than three times the number in France — has been particularly galling, given its recent exit from the union. Some Europeans understandably ask why.

Trust has long been a central issue in France, where skepticism toward COVID-19 vaccines late last year was widespread. In December, less than half the population said it was ready to be vaccinated.

That number, according to a poll by Harris Interactive, had risen to 64% earlier this month, before the AstraZeneca setback. Even then, however, trust in the AstraZeneca vaccine was lower, at 43% of the population, a number now halved.

The situation is scarcely better in Germany, although its death rate from the virus has been lower than France’s. “Stopping the AstraZeneca maximizes the damage to its image that has plagued the German vaccination strategy from the beginning,” Ulrich Weigeldt, the head of the German Association of General Practitioners, told the Funke media group. “Vaccination is and remains a question of trust.”

Confidence in the vaccine remains fairly high in Britain, where millions of people have received it, and even on the Continent, many Europeans seem untouched by the AstraZeneca fears. “I would definitely get the AstraZeneca vaccine if approved again,” said Corinne Taddei, 60, a karate instructor in Paris. The COVID vaccines, she said, are “the only solution to save us and get out of this pandemic.”

Maria Paraskevoula, a 52-year-old teacher in Athens, Greece, was also unbowed. “I’ll take any vaccine, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, I don’t care. From what I’ve heard, the chances of any problems are minimal. There’s always a risk but isn’t a bigger risk to walk around waiting to get infected?”

Last week, when reports surfaced that two men in Sicily, an Italian naval officer and a police officer, had died shortly after taking the AstraZeneca shot, the website of the Tuscany region registered 4,100 cancellations for the AstraZeneca vaccine in a day, roughly 12% of the people booked for the week ahead. In a few days, however, the vacancies were filled by other residents.

The disarray comes at a difficult moment with Europe facing what Castex, the French prime minister, has called “a kind of third wave” from new variants of the virus, even as exhaustion and depression have set in, along with severe hardship. Europe’s eventual economic recovery from the pandemic is set to be much slower than the American.

With the national mood restive, and a presidential election next year, the French government is wavering between further lockdowns and suggestions that by April 15 restaurants may start to open and a curfew be eased.

Its target of having 10 million people vaccinated with at least a first shot by mid-April, as compared to 5.6 million today, now looks ambitious given the fallout from the AstraZeneca panic. But French authorities insist it can be done, even if the AstraZeneca vaccine has to be withdrawn.

More than a year from the first lockdowns around Europe, an end to the crisis seems no closer. “I was never a No-Vaxxer,” said Laura Cerchi, a teacher at an elementary school on the outskirts of Florence who had her first shot of AstraZeneca in early March. “But all this confusion had me wondering whether I want to do the second shot or not. The mixed messages are not boosting my confidence in vaccines.”

In an interview, Clément Beaune, France’s junior minister for European Affairs, defended European policy. “I don’t believe that it’s European weightiness that is slowing down our vaccination process. Do we have problems in Europe? Yes. Would we — France, Germany — resolve these better at a national level waging war to obtain vaccine doses? I do not believe so.”

PARIS — It’s said that the European Union grows stronger through crises. The bloc’s attempt at a coordinated vaccination program, less a rollout than a roller coaster, has tested that theory, and now the suspension of the AstraZeneca shots in many countries threatens to turn widespread disarray into an outright debacle.

PARIS — It’s said that the European Union grows stronger through crises. The bloc’s attempt at a coordinated vaccination program, less a rollout than a roller coaster, has tested that theory, and now the suspension of the AstraZeneca shots in many countries threatens to turn widespread disarray into an outright debacle. “I feel like we are being used as guinea pigs,” said Khady Ballo, 21, a law student in the southern French town of Montpellier. “I would not get the AstraZeneca vaccine even if it is approved again.” Although it seems likely that the European Medicines Agency, the 27-member union’s top drug regulator, will quickly pronounce the AstraZeneca vaccine safe, millions of Europeans have been shaken by the back-and-forth and will be more hesitant about vaccination. “Before this, I was so pro-vaccines I would have dipped children into them,” said Maria Grazia Del Pero, 62, who works in tourism in Milan. But now, “I would not get AstraZeneca because that would be like playing Russian roulette.” Providing vaccines for the EU’s 450 million people was never going to be a simple task, especially as the union hardly had a coordinated health policy before the pandemic. But bureaucratic delay and confusion in procuring vaccines from pharmaceutical companies, followed by slow authorization, followed by delivery problems, followed by the sudden panic over the AstraZeneca shot, has left European governments on the defensive and Europeans reeling. In France, the government has swerved from lauding the AstraZeneca inoculation a few days ago to suspending it. The reaction to this confusion was swift, even if the government insists there is no established medical cause for fear. A poll by the Elabe Institute published Tuesday showed that only 20% of French people now trust the AstraZeneca vaccine, with 58% skeptical, and 22% undecided. “I trust AstraZeneca, I trust the vaccines,” Ursula von der Leyen, the top EU official, said at a news conference in Brussels. But reassuring words may not persuade Europeans experiencing policy whiplash. In a clear attempt to shore up shaken confidence, Jean Castex, the French prime minister, told BFM TV he would himself get the AstraZeneca vaccine “as soon as the green light is given.” He had not previously spoken of doing this. “The trust of Italians is deeply compromised, not only toward the AstraZeneca vaccine but also toward the authorities,” Roberto Burioni, a leading Italian virus expert, said. “These sudden and inexplicable changes in decisions create concerns everywhere.” Even an “all good” verdict from the European Medicines Agency, likely Thursday, “will not be enough.” Concerns about the shot are based on a small number of recipients who developed blood clots or abnormal bleeding. But researchers and drug regulators say they have seen no evidence of an increase in such complications or a connection to the inoculation. AstraZeneca said this week that a review of more than 17 million people who had received its vaccine found that they were actually less likely than the general population to develop dangerous clots. European countries, led by France and Germany, have been torn between a strong desire to avoid what they call “vaccination nationalism,” and the realization that the EU was not fully prepared for an operation on this scale. If integration of the bloc’s health policy has been fast-forwarded, with possible long-term benefits, lives have also been lost. The sight of Britain powering ahead with vaccinations — more than 26 million doses have been given, more than three times the number in France — has been particularly galling, given its recent exit from the union. Some Europeans understandably ask why. Trust has long been a central issue in France, where skepticism toward COVID-19 vaccines late last year was widespread. In December, less than half the population said it was ready to be vaccinated. That number, according to a poll by Harris Interactive, had risen to 64% earlier this month, before the AstraZeneca setback. Even then, however, trust in the AstraZeneca vaccine was lower, at 43% of the population, a number now halved. The situation is scarcely better in Germany, although its death rate from the virus has been lower than France’s. “Stopping the AstraZeneca maximizes the damage to its image that has plagued the German vaccination strategy from the beginning,” Ulrich Weigeldt, the head of the German Association of General Practitioners, told the Funke media group. “Vaccination is and remains a question of trust.” Confidence in the vaccine remains fairly high in Britain, where millions of people have received it, and even on the Continent, many Europeans seem untouched by the AstraZeneca fears. “I would definitely get the AstraZeneca vaccine if approved again,” said Corinne Taddei, 60, a karate instructor in Paris. The COVID vaccines, she said, are “the only solution to save us and get out of this pandemic.” Maria Paraskevoula, a 52-year-old teacher in Athens, Greece, was also unbowed. “I’ll take any vaccine, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, I don’t care. From what I’ve heard, the chances of any problems are minimal. There’s always a risk but isn’t a bigger risk to walk around waiting to get infected?” Last week, when reports surfaced that two men in Sicily, an Italian naval officer and a police officer, had died shortly after taking the AstraZeneca shot, the website of the Tuscany region registered 4,100 cancellations for the AstraZeneca vaccine in a day, roughly 12% of the people booked for the week ahead. In a few days, however, the vacancies were filled by other residents. The disarray comes at a difficult moment with Europe facing what Castex, the French prime minister, has called “a kind of third wave” from new variants of the virus, even as exhaustion and depression have set in, along with severe hardship. Europe’s eventual economic recovery from the pandemic is set to be much slower than the American. With the national mood restive, and a presidential election next year, the French government is wavering between further lockdowns and suggestions that by April 15 restaurants may start to open and a curfew be eased. Its target of having 10 million people vaccinated with at least a first shot by mid-April, as compared to 5.6 million today, now looks ambitious given the fallout from the AstraZeneca panic. But French authorities insist it can be done, even if the AstraZeneca vaccine has to be withdrawn. More than a year from the first lockdowns around Europe, an end to the crisis seems no closer. “I was never a No-Vaxxer,” said Laura Cerchi, a teacher at an elementary school on the outskirts of Florence who had her first shot of AstraZeneca in early March. “But all this confusion had me wondering whether I want to do the second shot or not. The mixed messages are not boosting my confidence in vaccines.” In an interview, Clément Beaune, France’s junior minister for European Affairs, defended European policy. “I don’t believe that it’s European weightiness that is slowing down our vaccination process. Do we have problems in Europe? Yes. Would we — France, Germany — resolve these better at a national level waging war to obtain vaccine doses? I do not believe so.”

Trust in AstraZeneca vaccine is shaken in Europe

The world's largest vaccine manufacturer India has said that it is going ahead with AstraZeneca vaccinations as it has seen no sign that the vaccine causes blood clots among the recipients.

India: AstraZeneca vaccinations will go on full vigour

Europe&nbsp;is a continent divided with 17 countries on one side and 27 on the other. Separating them is the AstraZeneca vaccine. Riled by fears of blood clots, Europe's big powers have suspended its use. Germany, France, Italy and Spain are among them.

Worldwide, at least 20 nations have paused their vaccine rollout. They want more clarity on the jab's safety. It's a huge blow to the global immunisation drive. Every day&nbsp;AstraZeneca remains shelved, lives are lost.

The expert opinion is clear. The blood clots are unrelated to vaccines. The benefits of taking the shot outweigh the risks.

"While the investigation is ongoing, currently, we are still firmly convinced that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing covid-19, with its associated risk of hospitalisation and death, outweigh the risks of these side effects," said Emer Cooke, Executive Director of European Medicines Agency.

The Europeans are playing wait and watch. On Thursday, EU's top medicines regulator will analyse the effects of AstraZeneca. They are expected to give a clean chit. Chances are, member states will lift the suspension soon after.

Unless the problem has something to do with other than just science.

Could the move to suspend AstraZeneca have been a political one? There is a strong case to be made.

For starters, AstraZeneca is a British vaccine. Relations across the channel have been frayed since Brexit. And two, Europe's vaccination drive was stumbling. AstraZeneca was the perfect distraction.

"The EU's own regulators said there's no reason, no grounds to suspend taking the vaccine or the rollout and that is itself echoed by the World Health Organization. So this vaccine is safe. We respect the processes and the procedures that some other countries may need to go through, but the vaccine is safe and people should certainly continue to take it to protect themselves and their friends and family, " said British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

So, is the fear over blood clots warranted? There have been 37 cases in 17 million recipients. Experts say it's hardly a trend.

And beyond Europe, AstraZeneca remains much sought after. The US has placed an order for half a million doses. Australia says it will continue to use the jabs. And on Tuesday, the Thai prime minister took the shot himself just hours after France and Germany announced their suspension.

In Europe, Serbia and Belgium plan to continue using AstraZeneca.

Europe's inoculation drive is already losing steam. The bloc has given 11 shots per 100 people. Britain is administering more than thrice that. The sudden suspension could also reignite anti-vaccine sentiments.

AstraZeneca was touted as the bulwark against the Wuhan virus. It is cheap and easy to store.

Time is of the essence in vaccination drives. And now is not the time to abandon your most potent weapon.

Europe is a continent divided with 17 countries on one side and 27 on the other. Separating them is the AstraZeneca vaccine. Riled by fears of blood clots, Europe's big powers have suspended its use.

Europe is a continent divided with 17 countries on one side and 27 on the other. Separating them is the AstraZeneca vaccine. Riled by fears of blood clots, Europe's big powers have suspended its use. Germany, France, Italy and Spain are among them. Worldwide, at least 20 nations have paused their vaccine rollout. They want more clarity on the jab's safety. It's a huge blow to the global immunisation drive. Every day AstraZeneca remains shelved, lives are lost. The expert opinion is clear. The blood clots are unrelated to vaccines. The benefits of taking the shot outweigh the risks. "While the investigation is ongoing, currently, we are still firmly convinced that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing covid-19, with its associated risk of hospitalisation and death, outweigh the risks of these side effects," said Emer Cooke, Executive Director of European Medicines Agency. The Europeans are playing wait and watch. On Thursday, EU's top medicines regulator will analyse the effects of AstraZeneca. They are expected to give a clean chit. Chances are, member states will lift the suspension soon after. Unless the problem has something to do with other than just science. Could the move to suspend AstraZeneca have been a political one? There is a strong case to be made. For starters, AstraZeneca is a British vaccine. Relations across the channel have been frayed since Brexit. And two, Europe's vaccination drive was stumbling. AstraZeneca was the perfect distraction. "The EU's own regulators said there's no reason, no grounds to suspend taking the vaccine or the rollout and that is itself echoed by the World Health Organization. So this vaccine is safe. We respect the processes and the procedures that some other countries may need to go through, but the vaccine is safe and people should certainly continue to take it to protect themselves and their friends and family, " said British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. So, is the fear over blood clots warranted? There have been 37 cases in 17 million recipients. Experts say it's hardly a trend. And beyond Europe, AstraZeneca remains much sought after. The US has placed an order for half a million doses. Australia says it will continue to use the jabs. And on Tuesday, the Thai prime minister took the shot himself just hours after France and Germany announced their suspension. In Europe, Serbia and Belgium plan to continue using AstraZeneca. Europe's inoculation drive is already losing steam. The bloc has given 11 shots per 100 people. Britain is administering more than thrice that. The sudden suspension could also reignite anti-vaccine sentiments. AstraZeneca was touted as the bulwark against the Wuhan virus. It is cheap and easy to store. Time is of the essence in vaccination drives. And now is not the time to abandon your most potent weapon.

Europe divided over AstraZeneca vaccine

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