LONDON – Irish health officials on Sunday recommended temporary discontinuation of the AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of severe blood clotting following vaccinations in Norway.
Dr. Ronan Glynn, deputy chief of medical service for Ireland, said the recommendation was made after the Norwegian medicines agency reported four cases of blood clotting in adults after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.
He said that while there was no conclusive link between the vaccine and the cases, Irish health officials are recommending the suspension of the vaccine’s introduction as a precaution.
The Danish, Norwegian and Icelandic authorities have taken similar precautions. The World Health Organization and the European Union’s regulator of medicines said earlier this week that there was no link between the shot and an increased risk of developing a clot.
The UK drug regulator, the MHRA, said on Thursday that “reports of blood clots received so far do not exceed the number that would have occurred naturally in the vaccinated population” and that “the available evidence does not confirm the vaccine is the cause. “
It said people should still get their COVID-19 vaccine if asked.
