‘Benefits outweigh risk’: WHO says keep using AstraZeneca vaccine

Countries should continue to use the AstraZeneca vaccine, the World Health Organization (WHO) urges, saying its benefits outweigh any risks as the world continues to reel from the coronavirus pandemic.

Hans Kluge, WHO director for Europe, made his appeal on Thursday after more than a dozen European countries stopped using the vaccine following scattered reports of blood clots as possible serious side effects.

“As of now, we do not know whether some or all of the conditions have been caused by the vaccine or by other coincidental factors,” Kluge said.

“At this point in time, however, the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine far outweigh its risks – and its use should continue, to save lives.”

The European Union’s medicines regulator – the European Medicines Agency (EMA) – on Wednesday issued a similar message of reassurance about the vaccine, saying it was “convinced” of its safety, as it investigates a small number of cases of blood clots in the region.

The EMA’s expert committee was set to announce the results of its investigation later on Thursday.

“As of now, we do not know whether some or all of the conditions have been caused by the vaccine or by other coincidental factors,” Kluge said.

“At this point in time, however, the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine far outweigh its risks – and its use should continue, to save lives.”

The European Union’s medicines regulator – the European Medicines Agency (EMA) – on Wednesday issued a similar message of reassurance about the vaccine, saying it was “convinced” of its safety, as it investigates a small number of cases of blood clots in the region.

The EMA’s expert committee was set to announce the results of its investigation later on Thursday.

The EMA’s probe is focused on 30 cases of unusual blood disorders out of five million recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine…..read more

Source: Al Jazeera

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