The World Health Organization (WHO) today (March 15) continued its appeal to countries not to pause vaccination campaigns, despite nations across Europe and at least one Asian state citing safety concerns and suspending use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine.

Thailand announced plans on Monday to go ahead with the Anglo-Swedish firm’s shot but Indonesia said it would wait after Ireland and the Netherlands announced suspensions on Sunday.

Germany has now joined the growing list of countries suspending the disbursement of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with some people complaining of experiencing blood clots.

Holland’s decision Sunday to suspend the roll-out of the AstraZeneca vaccine will remain in effect until March 29, following complaints coming from Norway and Denmark about major side effects.

France, Bulgaria, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Denmark, Holland, Germany, Romania have now put the brakes on AstraZeneca, citing fears over the safety of the vaccine.

READ: Faith in AstraZeneca vaccine crumbling across Europe

The aim is for many of the more developed western countries to get more people vaccinated than have contracted the virus by the end of summer. In this regard, the roll-outs of the vaccines are vital and AstraZeneca has been leading the charge, particularly in Europe.

Earlier today, Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin said: “There is no casual effect established or anything like that yet but as a precautionary move in line with the precautionary principle and in an abundance of caution, our clinical advice was to pause the program whilst  the European Medicines Agency (EMA) does a review of this. This is an unwelcome pause but nevertheless I think it is important that we take heed of the advice we have received.”

With countries expressing concern about the safety of this vaccine and taking the decision to pull away for the time being, AstraZeneca felt compelled to respond writing: “A careful review of all available safety data  of more than 17 million people vaccinated in the European Union and the UK with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca has shown no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism deep vein thrombosis (DVT)  or thrombocytopenia in any defined age group, gender, batch or in any particular country.”

Last week the World Health Organization (WHO) got behind the Astra Zeneca vaccine and proclaimed it safe.

Professor of Pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygeine and Tropical Medicine, Stephen Evans proclaimed that taking the vaccine is recommended and will help in fighting off the deadly virus.

“COVID definitely causes coagulation disorders and each of the vaccines prevents COVID disease including more severe cases. Therefore, it is extremely likely that the benefit of the vaccine notably outweighs any risk for coagulation disorders and the vaccine prevents other consequences of COVID including deaths from other causes,” said Evans.

BLOOD CLOT CONNECTION TENUOUS AT BEST, SAY SCIENTISTS

With 17 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses already placed in the arms of people across Europe and just 30 incidents of blood clots, many scientists are of the view that to make a connection is tenuous at best.

“There is currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions which are not listed as side effects with this vaccine. The vaccine’s benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is going on,” said the EU’S EMA.

Outside of Europe, Indonesia, The Democratic Republic of Congo, and Thailand have also suspended AstraZeneca until it gets the all clear.

Many European countries are trying to prevent a third wave of coronavirus and are going back into lockdown. Both France and Italy are currently seeing 22,000 cases per day with Italy taking the decision to retreat back into lockdown as of today.

There are some European leaders who for some time now have cast doubts on the efficacy of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, with people complaining about feeling tired, or having muscle pain or fever after taking it.

Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Bristol, Adam Finn takes a sanguine approach, advocating caution, saying, “If clear evidence of serious or life-threatening side-effects emerges, that will have important consequences. However so far it hasn’t and it’s highly undesirable to disrupt a complex and urgent programme every time people develop illnesses after receiving a vaccine that may be coincidental and not casually related. Making the right call in situations like this is not easy but having a steady hand on the tiller is probably what is needed most.”