The Netherlands has joined Ireland in suspending use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine as a precautionary measure following further reports of blood clots in people who have received it, this time from Norway, The Guardian reported on Monday.
The government said it would now wait for an investigation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). “We can’t allow any doubts about the vaccine,” Dutch health minister Hugo de Jonge said.
A supply of AstraZeneca vaccines are being administered on teachers in Albania starting from last Saturday in 6 schools in Tirana and the vaccination campaign started in other regions on Monday.
PM Edi Rama gave assurances on Saturday that the vaccine is safe posing not any risk to vaccinated people. The supply contains some 38,500 doses.
In another related event former DP Deputy Tritan Shehu denounced on Monday the decision of Rama to authorize the use of Chinese and Russian vaccines in Albania. He called it a dangerous electoral improvisation. However neither he, a former health minisyer, nor any DP officials have unveiled how they will cope with the pandemic in case of coming to power on April 25. /argumentum.al
