Europe aims to get vaccinations back on track after clearing AstraZeneca shot | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
May 28, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025
Europe aims to get vaccinations back on track after clearing AstraZeneca shot

Coronavirus chronicle

Reuters
19 March, 2021, 09:20 am
Last modified: 19 March, 2021, 08:24 pm

Related News

  • Macron navigates rocky path to recognising Palestinian state
  • German court to rule on Peruvian farmer versus RWE climate case
  • France's Macron, Indonesia's Prabowo to discuss defence ties
  • Germany threatens steps against Israel as tone shifts over Gaza
  • Germany shifts tone on Israel over 'incomprehensible' Gaza carnage

Europe aims to get vaccinations back on track after clearing AstraZeneca shot

Safety concerns had led at least 13 European countries to stop administering the shot, slowing an already faltering inoculation campaign across the European Union, which is lagging Britain and the United States

Reuters
19 March, 2021, 09:20 am
Last modified: 19 March, 2021, 08:24 pm
A person receives a dose of Oxford/AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Antwerp, Belgium March 18, 2021. Reuters/Yves Herman
A person receives a dose of Oxford/AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Antwerp, Belgium March 18, 2021. Reuters/Yves Herman

Europe pushed to get its Covid-19 vaccination drive back on track on Friday after EU and British regulators said the benefits of AstraZeneca's shot outweighed any risks following reports of blood clots.

The end to the suspension of AstraZeneca shots by more than a dozen countries will now kick off a test of public confidence, both in the vaccine and regulators who are under unprecedented scrutiny as variants of the virus spread and the global death toll climbs beyond 2.8 million.

Safety concerns had led at least 13 European countries to stop administering the shot, slowing an already faltering inoculation campaign across the European Union, which is lagging Britain and the United States.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Europe's leaders say they need to accelerate their vaccination drive, with deaths in the EU topping 550,000, less than a 10th of the bloc's population inoculated and growing signs of an imminent third wave of infections.

Germany, Italy and others countries including Indonesia began on Friday to administer the shots they had suspended after reports of about 30 cases of rare brain blood clots sent scientists and governments scrambling to determine any link.

France's health regulator, however, recommended only over 55s should get AstraZeneca shots due to concern those younger were more at risk of clots while Lithuania will let people chose their vaccine in a possible litmus test of sentiment.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) came to what it called a clear conclusion that the vaccine's benefits in protecting people from coronavirus-related death or hospitalisation outweighed the possible risks.

Still, EMA said a link between rare events of blood clots in the brain and the shot could not be definitively ruled out and it would continue its scrutiny, as will the British Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

"This is a safe and effective vaccine," EMA Director Emer Cooke told a briefing on Thursday. "If it were me, I would be vaccinated tomorrow."

Prudent Reintroduction

The EMA said it would update its guidance on the vaccine to include an explanation for patients about potential risks and information for healthcare professionals to help people recognise when they may need medical assistance.

Germany resumed administering the vaccine on Friday morning after a three-day pause as the nation's health minister warned there were not enough vaccines in Europe to contain a third wave of coronavirus infections. 

"We can reintroduce AstraZeneca but prudently with informed doctors and appropriately educated citizens," Health Minister Jens Spahn said.

In Italy, where Prime Minister Mario Draghi said the country was also resuming vaccinations with AstraZeneca's shot, about 200,000 inoculations had been put on hold due leaving regions in control of inoculations to reschedule them.

"They already have the doses, it's not like we have to distribute more today," an Italian health ministry spokesman said.

Spain will resume inoculations from Wednesday with the Netherlands also planning to start using AstraZeneca shots again next week.

Canada also gave its backing to the vaccine though Denmark and Sweden both said they needed more time to make a decision.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex said he would get the shot on Friday to try to promote acceptance. Still, the country's recommendation for giving the shot only to those 55 and older reflects a lingering reluctance.

"The EMA has identified a possible increased risk of (thrombosis) in people under 55 years old," the country's drug regulator said.

Georgia said coronavirus vaccinations with the AstraZeneca shot would continue only in fully-fledged medical centres following the death of a nurse who suffered an anaphylactic shock, according to regional news agencies.

The central African country of Cameroon, meanwhile, suspended the AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday, saying it was a precautionary move, without providing specifics.

'Incredibly Reassuring'

Amid a mixed global picture, some experts sought to reinforce confidence in AstraZeneca's vaccine, which is seen as an important asset globally due to its relatively easy storage and transport requirements and low price compared to mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna.

"What we really should be focusing on is that this is incredibly reassuring. The processes are working, the safety monitoring that we all expect from our authorities is happening," Andrew Pollard, who runs the Oxford Vaccine Group, told BBC radio.

"We do need to continue to monitor safety, but in the end it's the virus we're fighting, not the vaccines."

Oxford University partnered with AstraZeneca to develop the vaccine.

Britain's MHRA is investigating five cases of the rare brain blood clot among 11 million shots administered in the country.

The MHRA, like the EMA, said it would scrutinise reports of clots in the cerebral veins - know as sinus vein thrombosis, or CSVT - occurring together with lowered platelets soon after vaccination.

But the agency said the vaccine should continue to be used and one official said Britain's roll-out would probably carry on even if a link were proven.

The drugmaker's own review covering more than 17 million people who have received its shot in the EU and Britain found no evidence of increased risk of blood clots.

The World Health Organization, which this week reaffirmed its support for the shot that remains a centrepiece of its COVAX vaccine sharing programme, plans on Friday to give an update on its vaccine advisory committee's review.

Top News / World+Biz

Germany / France / AstraZeneca / resume

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Leaders and activists of BNP gather at Nayapaltan ahead of the rally of three BNP affiliated organisations on Wednesday, 28 May 2025. Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS
    Thousands gather as BNP's rally in Nayapaltan underway
  • Inflation, exchange rate shocks to intensify fiscal pressure in FY26
    Inflation, exchange rate shocks to intensify fiscal pressure in FY26
  • Representational Image. Freepik
    DSEX drops 62 points, extends losing streak to six days

MOST VIEWED

  • Selim RF Hussain. Sketch: TBS
    BRAC Bank MD Selim RF Hussain resigns
  • Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur. TBS Sketch
    Depositors need not worry as govt will take over banks before merger: BB governor
  • Graphics: TBS
    Suspicious banking activities surge by 56% since July: Cenbank
  • Photo: Collected
    DU student assaulted for protesting eve-teasing at Chadni Chowk
  • Illustration: TBS
    Bangladesh sees highest-ever per capita income of $2,820 in FY25, BBS provisional data shows
  • Officials protest inside the Secretariat on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, over a government ordinance amending the Public Service Act, 2018. Photo: Rajib Dhar
    Protest at Secretariat suspended as govt assures decision on ordinance tomorrow

Related News

  • Macron navigates rocky path to recognising Palestinian state
  • German court to rule on Peruvian farmer versus RWE climate case
  • France's Macron, Indonesia's Prabowo to discuss defence ties
  • Germany threatens steps against Israel as tone shifts over Gaza
  • Germany shifts tone on Israel over 'incomprehensible' Gaza carnage

Features

In recent years, the Gor-e-Shaheed Eidgah has emerged as a strong contender for the crown of the biggest Eid congregation in the country, having hosted 600,000 worshippers in 2017. Photo: TBS

Gor-e-Shaheed Boro Maath: The heart of Dinajpur

1d | Panorama
The Hili Land Port, officially opened in 1997 but with trade roots stretching back to before Partition, has grown into a cornerstone of bilateral commerce.

Dhaka-Delhi tensions ripple across Hili’s markets and livelihoods

2d | Panorama
Photo: Collected

Desk goals: Affordable ways to elevate your study setup

2d | Brands
Built on a diamond-type frame, the Hornet 2.0 is agile but grounded. PHOTO: Asif Chowdhury

Honda Hornet 2.0: Same spirit, upgraded sting

3d | Wheels

More Videos from TBS

Crowds throng BNP’s youth rally

Crowds throng BNP’s youth rally

10m | TBS Today
How Was Interpol’s Most Wanted Subrata Bain Arrested?

How Was Interpol’s Most Wanted Subrata Bain Arrested?

35m | TBS Stories
Google Pay likely coming to Bangladesh soon

Google Pay likely coming to Bangladesh soon

1h | TBS Stories
UCB aims to grow deposits by Tk12,000 crore this year

UCB aims to grow deposits by Tk12,000 crore this year

1h | TBS Programs
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net