Denmark became the first country in the world to exclude the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine

Denmark has decided to permanently exclude AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine due to its rare but “serious” side effects, the health authorities announced on Wednesday, making it the first European country to do so, despite authorizations from the continental regulator and the WHO to continue using it.

After two serious cases, one of which was fatal, of blood clots in people who received a first injection, Denmark was the first European country to completely halt the use of this vaccine on March 11, in a bid to further study its side effects.

But this Wednesday, he announced the final decision: “The vaccination campaign in Denmark continues without the AstraZeneca vaccine”, National Health Agency director Soren Brostrom said.

“There is a possible cross reaction between the vaccine and a low platelet count. We also know that there is a temporary connection. The reaction occurs one to ten days after inoculation with AstraZeneca ”, Indian.

“This decision was made in the context of: in Denmark, most of the population at risk has already been vaccinated and the epidemic is under control “, Iinsists the health officer, declaring that he shares the opinion of the EMA, that consider that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks.

Most European countries that had suspended the use of this vaccine have resumed its use, but establish an age limit. Norway will announce its decision on Thursday.

SSouth Africa also quit AstraZeneca in February, but for other reasons since its effectiveness is questioned vis-a-vis the variant which prevails in the country.

The United States, like Switzerland, has not yet authorized it and Venezuela has refused to do so, citing its side effects.

Delay in the vaccination schedule

The Danish suspension was ordered a month ago after reports describing rare cases of blood clots, associated with low platelet count and bleeding.

According to a medical team from Oslo National Hospital in Norway, these Atypical cases are caused by a “strong immune response” triggered by the vaccine.

Scientists suspect that these are linked to adenovirus used as a “viral vector” in the product of the Anglo-Swedish laboratory, just like the american Johnson & Johnson.

Around 150,000 people who have received one dose of this vaccine will be offered another for their second, according to the authorities.

Around the 8% of the 5.8 million inhabitants of the country are fully vaccinated and 17% have received the first dose, The abandonment of this vaccine means an extension of at least three weeks of the ambitious Danish vaccination program, which provided for inoculation of all over 16 years by July.

The vaccine Johnson & Johnson, whose first doses arrived on Wednesday, have yet to be distributed. The United States has suspended its use to investigate the occurrence of severe cases of blood clots.

The laboratory immediately decided delay the distribution of its single-dose vaccine in Europe, where it was the fourth to obtain EMA clearance, in March.

It remains to be seen what he will do Denmark with its AstraZeneca vaccine stock, some 200,000 doses stored in refrigerators.

Destroy them while the planet suffers from a desperate lack of vaccines? Resell them or give them to poor countries until the product is considered safe enough for you? The main options could lead to prosecution for immorality.

“Of course we want vaccines to be used”Brostrom said Wednesday, without providing further details.

With information from AFP

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