Health officials are putting fears to rest after international reports circulated that some European countries were temporarily suspending the Astra Zeneca vaccine due to blood clot concerns.
Ministry of Health was quick to address the national concerns that arose after more than 20,000 doses of the vaccine arrived in the country.
The big picture
The AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved by the World Health Organisation. But in recent days, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Austria have temporarily suspended its use because one woman is reported to have died as a result of blood clots sustained purportedly after being inoculated with the vaccine, along with a small group of people developing clots after receiving the vaccine.
What the Ministry of Health says
- The vaccines received by the Bahamas on Wednesday, 10th March, are different from the batch reportedly used in the affected countries.
- The AstraZeneca vaccine received by The Bahamas has met all of the requirements and standards as outlined in the World Health Organization’s pre-qualification system, which has provided Emergency Use Listing.
- The vaccine has also received Caribbean Regulatory System certification.
- The Ministry of Health assures the public that COVID-19 vaccines received by The Bahamas will continue to meet the stringent regulatory approval standards stated above.
European Medicines Agency (EMA)
The EMA said blood clots can occur naturally, adding that there had been 30 cases of “thromboembolic events” among the five million Europeans who have received the vaccine.
“There is currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions, which are not listed as side effects with this vaccine,” the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Thursday.