CGTN Europe, 16-Mar-2021
Experts have cautioned that while we shouldn't be "too worried" about taking the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine, governments should be concerned that a ban on the jab may cause more long-term vaccine hesitancy.
The warning comes as a slew of European countries, including Germany, the Netherlands and France, suspended the UK-made jab after reports the drug was linked to "serious blood clotting in adults."
However, Lawrence Young, a professor of molecular oncology at Warwick University, told CGTN Europe that despite the reports, there was little to worry about: "I don't think any of us actually have any concerns that this is a dangerous vaccine."
"We've seen all the data that's come out from the clinical trials that demonstrate this vaccine, along with others, is safe," he said, pointing to the fact the UK and the EU's regulators had already signed off on the jab.
"It's inevitable that there are going to be some bumps in the road and, of course, one has to be always concerned about safety and monitoring safety," he said. But stressed: "I don't think we should be too worried."
European nations initially started suspending single batches of the AstraZeneca vaccine in early March. However, after several reports of blood clotting and deaths in people who had taken the jab, some countries started enforcing a temporary ban.
READ MORE: Which European countries are suspending the AstraZeneca vaccine and why?
More and more European countries are suspending
Experts have cautioned that while we shouldn't be "too worried" about taking the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine, governments should be concerned that a ban on the jab may cause more long-term vaccine hesitancy.
The warning comes as a slew of European countries, including Germany, the Netherlands and France, suspended the UK-made jab after reports the drug was linked to "serious blood clotting in adults."
However, Lawrence Young, a professor of molecular oncology at Warwick University, told CGTN Europe that despite the reports, there was little to worry about: "I don't think any of us actually have any concerns that this is a dangerous vaccine."
"We've seen all the data that's come out from the clinical trials that demonstrate this vaccine, along with others, is safe," he said, pointing to the fact the UK and the EU's regulators had already signed off on the jab.
"It's inevitable that there are going to be some bumps in the road and, of course, one has to be always concerned about safety and monitoring safety," he said. But stressed: "I don't think we should be too worried."
European nations initially started suspending single batches of the AstraZeneca vaccine in early March. However, after several reports of blood clotting and deaths in people who had taken the jab, some countries started enforcing a temporary ban.
READ MORE: Which European countries are suspending the AstraZeneca vaccine and why?
More and more European countries are suspending
the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine after reports of
unexpected possible side effects. /Joel Saget/AFP
But Young, an internationally renowned virus specialist who has recently been developing tests to detect COVID-19 antigens and antibodies, said it was vital to compare any adverse effects of vaccines with those that normally occur in the general population.
That was particularly true, he said, when blood clots were already a regular complication of COVID-19 and even prior to the pandemic, were "sadly, very, very common."
"In the UK alone, there are at least 3,000 reported cases of blood clot-associated diseases a month," said the professor. "When you're vaccinating millions of people, you're going to see a similar trend in those individuals."
However, he expressed concern that the decision to suspend AstraZeneca could cause serious problems, given the fact that in Europe "there are many folk who are vaccine hesitant."
He added: "I think it's really important that we report these differences, these adverse effects responsibly, but also stress the fact that overall, the safety data for this vaccine and the other vaccines are very, very good indeed."
Our current COVID-19 vaccines are "much safer than lots of over-the-counter drugs that people take every day," he added, saying that if AstraZeneca's bad PR didn't stop, it would negatively impact Europe's vaccine programs.
"This is one of the front-runner vaccines, not least because it's cheap, and also we know it's very effective," said Lawrence.
"We've heard a lot through the pandemic about 'none of us are safe until all of us are safe,'" he added in reference to the need for mass-vaccination.
But Young, an internationally renowned virus specialist who has recently been developing tests to detect COVID-19 antigens and antibodies, said it was vital to compare any adverse effects of vaccines with those that normally occur in the general population.
That was particularly true, he said, when blood clots were already a regular complication of COVID-19 and even prior to the pandemic, were "sadly, very, very common."
"In the UK alone, there are at least 3,000 reported cases of blood clot-associated diseases a month," said the professor. "When you're vaccinating millions of people, you're going to see a similar trend in those individuals."
However, he expressed concern that the decision to suspend AstraZeneca could cause serious problems, given the fact that in Europe "there are many folk who are vaccine hesitant."
He added: "I think it's really important that we report these differences, these adverse effects responsibly, but also stress the fact that overall, the safety data for this vaccine and the other vaccines are very, very good indeed."
Our current COVID-19 vaccines are "much safer than lots of over-the-counter drugs that people take every day," he added, saying that if AstraZeneca's bad PR didn't stop, it would negatively impact Europe's vaccine programs.
"This is one of the front-runner vaccines, not least because it's cheap, and also we know it's very effective," said Lawrence.
"We've heard a lot through the pandemic about 'none of us are safe until all of us are safe,'" he added in reference to the need for mass-vaccination.
No comments:
Post a Comment