Global NewsNo Cause For Alarm - WHO, NMA On AstraZeneca Vaccine

No Cause For Alarm – WHO, NMA On AstraZeneca Vaccine

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BEVERLY HILLS, March 13, (THEWILL) – The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have assured there was no reason to stop using AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 jab after several countries suspended roll out over blood clot fears.

The WHO, which said its vaccines advisory committee was examining the safety data coming in, said no causal link has been established between the AstraZeneca vaccine and clotting.

“Yes, we should continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine”, WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said, stressing that any concerns over safety must be investigated.

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READ ALSO: Death of Vaccinated Nurse Forces Austria To Suspend AstraZeneca Vaccine

Currently, about 10 European countries have suspended the vaccine’s use, following claims of a blood clots associated with its usage.

Denmark, Norway and Iceland paused use of the vaccin as a precaution after isolated reports of recipients developing blood clots.

Italy and Austria have banned the use of jabs from separate batches of AstraZeneca, and Thailand and Bulgaria said this week they would delay rollout.

While no cases of blood clots have been reported so far in India, the health authority said it will carry out a deeper review of post-vaccination side effects from the AstraZeneca shot next week.

The review is taking place as a matter of abundant precaution”, the Hindustan Times daily reported, quoting NK Arora from the Indian covid task force

In Spain, at least five regions said they had suspended use of AstraZeneca vaccines from the suspect batch banned by Austria as a precautionary measure.

But several other countries, including Australia, said they would continue their roll-outs as they had found no reason to alter course. Canada also said there was no evidence the jab causes adverse reactions.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA on Saturday assured Nigerians that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe, advising people to get vaccinated.

Kwara NMA Chairman, Prof. Baba Issa, gave the advise while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin, in response to a question raised about the vaccine.

“It depends on the vaccine that they are taking, but the one we have in Nigeria made by AstraZeneca company is known to be safe and efficacious.

“That is why Nigeria has keyed into it and the Kwara Government has taken delivery of some doses of this vaccine.

“So I’ll advise people to take it, it is safe and it is very effective”, Issa said.

Issa pointed out that when many people get vaccinated and become immune to the disease, Nigerians will develop herd-immunity.

“Herd immunity is resistance to the spread of an infectious disease within a population that is based on pre-existing immunity of a high proportion of individuals as a result of previous infection or vaccination”, he said.

Issa also advised that those vaccinated against the disease must continue to observe all COVID-19 protocols, such as physical distancing, wearing of facemasks and washing of hands.

He added that though the number of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Kwara was not enough, more was being expected, adding that the target was to vaccinate as many people as possible.

He, however, explained that the current batch of COVID-19 vaccine was expected to cover healthcare workers and front-line workers in the country.

Prof. Tanimola Akande, former President of the Association of Public Health Physician of Nigeria (APHPN) said the vaccine was safe while confirming that he had already been vaccinated.

He said he felt no pain after taking the vaccination.

Also, Mustapha Katibi, the state representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), attested to the safety of the vaccine, saying that it was safe and effective.

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