Corona: AstraZeneca skepticism after cases of blood clots



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Currently, the uncertainty surrounding the AstraZeneca vaccine is great. Image: keystone

9 points showing what’s going on with the AstraZeneca vaccine

The AstraZeneca vaccine has been criticized. Recently, several countries have suspended its use for the time being. Others adhere to it and Switzerland awaits their approval. That’s what the current situation is about.

The AstraZeneca vaccine has already been approved in more than 70 countries. So far more than 11 million cans have been injected. Now that there were complications with some vaccines as a result, four countries stopped vaccination with the British-Swedish vaccine. Let’s take a closer look at what the state of affairs is.

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What happened?

Serious blood clots have been reported in Denmark in people vaccinated against Covid-19. Among other things, a death is reported. The Danish health administration announced that it was not yet possible to determine at this time whether there was a connection between the vaccine and blood clots.

What was the reaction?

As a precautionary measure, Denmark decided to suspend vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine for 14 days. Other countries followed suit (see point 5). Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke spoke of a precautionary measure. After 14 days, Denmark wants to decide again whether AstraZeneca will be used again as a vaccine. Heunicke emphasized that the AstraZeneca vaccine should not be rejected, but that the administration should be paused. So far, around 142,000 people in Denmark have received the AstraZeneca vaccine.

How many cases are there?

It is not clear. One thing is clear: in addition to some cases of thrombotic events (eg pulmonary embolism), there was one death in Denmark with a blood clot that occurred after vaccination.

In Austria, three cases with side effects have been reported in recent days. A 49-year-old nurse died in Zettl on Monday, a 35-year-old colleague had to go to the hospital with a pulmonary embolism and a third case of a 51-year-old patient with a pulmonary embolism in Styria was added on Tuesday. However, the last two affected people are on the way to recovery.

It is also said that there have been cases in Italy that occurred after vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Withdrawal from the market in Austria and Italy

Health authorities Austria he had remembered the remaining stock on the production line after the first case. 37,000 cans have already been inoculated, only 6,000 have been returned.

Austria had AstraZeneca vaccines withdrawn from the market, but is sticking to the vaccination plan. Image: keystone

Thrombotic events are not actually one of the typical side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Based on current data, there is no apparent connection. Although the willingness in Austria to get vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine is decreasing, Austria wants to continue vaccinating with it for the time being.

Also in Italy the medical regulatory agency AIFA responded and recalled a production line. There were also serious incidents and deaths there. Also in Romania there have been recalls of a specific lot of the vaccine.

What countries stopped the vaccine?

The AstraZeneca vaccine is already approved in more than 70 countries. After Denmark, other countries announced Thursday that they would not be vaccinated with AstraZeneca for the time being. These are:

All countries emphasize that these are precautionary measures related to the Anglo-Swedish vaccine.

Thailand is the fourth country to wait with AstraZeneca vaccines at the moment. Image: keystone

The Norwegian health institute FHI announced that the around 122,000 people who received the vaccine in Norway should not worry unnecessarily. If there was a connection between the vaccine and blood clots, it would be an extremely rare side effect.

Who is holding on to the vaccine?

Until now, the EU has largely stuck to the AstraZeneca vaccine. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced that it “adheres to the positive evaluation of the approved AstraZeneca vaccine.”

French Health Minister Oliver Véran also said on Thursday night in Paris that France was of the opinion that there was no excessive risk: “We watch, we watch.”

The German Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) announced Thursday that there are currently no indications of a connection.

Britain, which is pushing the vaccination schedule and has already vaccinated about eleven million people with the AstraZeneca vaccine, is also continuing vaccination. Despite the follow-up, no more cases of blood clots were found.

Criticism of the interruption of vaccination

Stopping the AstraZeneca vaccine does not go well everywhere. The German doctor Mathias Pletz, director of the Institute of Infection Medicine and Hospital Hygiene at the University of Jena, criticizes that the measure is more harmful than good.

He assumes that about five percent more people will become infected with the virus through the decision: “The decision will likely cause more harm than it prevents possible complications from vaccination, which we currently don’t even know if they are complications from vaccination.” .

The summary in Switzerland:

How does Switzerland feel about AstraZeneca?

In Switzerland, the expected approval of AstraZeneca is yet to come. Swissmedic announced Wednesday that it was still waiting for crucial data for evaluation.

As early as October, Switzerland contractually ordered 5.3 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine. If the vaccine is approved, this delivery is expected for several months.

In February there were also reports that AstraZeneca cans would be resold, as other (more effective) vaccines are expected in May. BAG Deputy Director Nora Kronig said: “There are considerations in transmitting the material.” Termination of the contract was not a problem a few weeks ago. Two days ago, Anne Lévy said in an interview with Watson about the possible resale: “That is not true. We are awaiting approval from Swissmedic and would be happy if this happened. “

Side effects with other vaccines in Switzerland:

Whats Next?

More studies are underway. However, there will probably only be results in a few weeks. Austrian infectologist Herwig Kolleritsch of the Med-Uni in Vienna said: “It is clear that even then there will be no one hundred percent security.” You always have to carry out a risk-benefit assessment, “and this is still very positive.”

At USA Meanwhile, according to a newspaper report, millions of unused doses of AstraZeneca’s corona vaccine are piling up. Only 30 million doses of vaccines have already been filled at a facility in the state of Ohio, and tens of millions more doses have been produced in a laboratory in Maryland, the newspaper wrote. The large supply of this vaccine, which is already approved in more than 70 countries, has sparked a discussion in Washington about whether it should not be given to other countries that need it more.

With sda material.

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