UK PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON DEFENDS ASTRAZENECA VACCINE OVER BLOOD CLOT FEARS
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday defended the safety of the AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccine after several European countries suspended its rollout citing blood clots fears.
Germany, Italy and France on Monday joined a growing list of countries who have suspended the use of the vaccine following reports of blood clotting.
However, the World Health Organisation, AstraZeneca, the European Medicines Agency, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration have insisted that the vaccine is safe for use.
Boris Johnson on Tuesday echoed these assurances, stating that the AstraZeneca "vaccine is safe and works extremely well."
READ ALSO: NIGERIA CONTINUES PLANS TO INOCULATE CITIZENS WITH ASTRAZENECA VACCINES DESPITE HEALTH CONCERNS
The British PM on Monday told journalists that Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is “one of the toughest and most experienced regulators in the world”.
“They see no reason at all to discontinue the vaccination programme… for either of the vaccines that we’re currently using,” he said.
“They believe that they are highly effective in driving down not just hospitalisation but also serious disease and mortality.
“We continue to be very confident about the programme and it’s great to see it being rolled out at such speed across the UK.”
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