AMSTERDAM – The Netherlands has become the latest country to suspend use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine over concerns about possible side effects.
The Dutch government said the move, which will last until at least 29 March, was a precaution.
The Republic of Ireland earlier made a similar decision over reports of blood clotting in recipients in Norway.
But the World Health Organization said there is no link between the jab and an increased risk of developing a clot.
The European Medicines Agency – which is currently carrying out a review into incidents of blood clots – said the vaccine’s benefits continue to outweigh its risks.
Denmark, Norway, Bulgaria, Iceland, and Thailand have already halted their use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.(BBC)