A health worker holds a box of the AstraZeneneca vaccine at the Bamrasnaradura Institute for Infectious Diseases in Nonthaburi Province on the outskirts of
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Representative: A medic preparing a dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine against coronavirus disease (AFP via Getty Images)
Thailand has delayed the use of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine that was scheduled to start on Friday with the public vaccination of the prime minister and cabinet members, amid concerns about reports of blood clots in some vaccinated people.
Thailand joined the ranks of Denmark, Norway and Iceland who have suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine after about 30 cases of “thromboembolic events” or blood clots were reported out of the five million Europeans who received the vaccine.
AstraZeneca has said the vaccine has been studied extensively during Phase 3 trials and peer-reviewed data confirms the shot is “generally well tolerated.”
Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and members of his cabinet on Friday cancelled plans to receive AstraZeneca vaccine shots after the country delayed use of the vaccines over reports of blood clots in some European nations, a health official said. In a health ministry news conference, Prasit Watanapa, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, confirmed the rollout would be delayed after a suspension of inoculations using the vaccine in Denmark, Norway and Iceland. Thailand was in a position to suspend the rollout for safety investigations because it had brought under control a second wave of coronavirus cases, said Kiattiphum Wongjit, permanent secretary for the Public Health Ministry.
Thailand delays AstraZeneca vaccination amid Europe safety reports By Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat
FILE PHOTO: A vial of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand delayed the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine scheduled to start on Friday with its prime minister and cabinet members taking the first shots, citing safety concerns after reports of blood clots in some vaccinated people in Europe.
The Asian nation is the first country outside of Europe suspending the use of the AstraZeneca shot, while several countries including Canada, Australia, the Philippines and South Korea said they would go ahead.
In a health ministry news conference, Prasit Watanapa, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, confirmed the rollout would be delayed after a suspension of inoculations using the vaccine in Denmark, Norway and Iceland.