The African Union said on Thursday that African countries should continue to use AstraZeneca\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine, echoing the World Health Organization (WHO) by saying the shot\u2019s benefits outweighed risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recommendation comes after more than a dozen European countries suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine amid concerns over the risk of blood clots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Africa has lagged wealthier parts of the world in vaccinations, with many countries on the continent using free AstraZeneca shots distributed by a global scheme co-led by the WHO to kick-start immunisation campaigns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told a news conference the \u201cbenefits still outweigh the risks\u201d and countries should \u201cmove forward\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The head of the disease control body added that any adverse reactions should be monitored and reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI encourage countries…to continue with their vaccination campaigns and not to pause, as we are in a race against time,\u201d the WHO\u2019s Africa director Matshidiso Moeti told a separate briefing. \u201cThe more people are protected, the less likelihood of mutations producing more dangerous variants of the virus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AstraZeneca said on Sunday that a review of safety data of more than 17 million people in the United Kingdom and European Union who had been given its vaccine had shown no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The European Medicines Agency is investigating reports of 30 cases of unusual blood disorders out of 5 million people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine in the 27-nation EU. It said it has so far found no causal link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo has delayed the rollout of AstraZeneca\u2019s shot, citing the suspensions in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But other countries are forging ahead. Angolan Health Minister Silvia Lutucuta said on Thursday her country had not recorded any serious side-effects from AstraZeneca\u2019s vaccine so far. She said doses shipped to Angola were from a different batch to ones distributed in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Muluken Yohannes, a senior adviser to Ethiopia\u2019s health ministry, said the government there would continue using the AstraZeneca shot. \u201cIt is too early to associate the link between the current problem and the vaccine,\u201d he told Reuters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The African Union said on Thursday that African countries should continue to use AstraZeneca\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine, echoing the World Health Organization (WHO) by saying the shot\u2019s benefits outweighed risks. The recommendation comes after more than a dozen European countries suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine amid concerns over the risk of blood clots. Africa has […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27983,"featured_media":22500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_paywall_metabox":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[356,467,98],"tags":[31],"class_list":["post-22499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-big-story","category-health","category-news","tag-featured"],"yoast_head":"\n