Reza Mahmud :
A number of countries across the globe have suspended AstraZeneca vaccine suspecting its adverse reaction about blood clots in recipients’ bodies which created confusion among the people of Bangladesh.
People’s anxiety grow over the news as the AstraZeneca’s covid vaccine is the lone jab to combat against the fatal disease in the country.
Public health experts have suggested the government to take the matter seriously and to observe recipients’ reactions closely.
“We have asked the people not to be worried about the news of suspensions of the AstraZeneca’s covid-19 vaccine, because it is yet to say finally that the adverse blood clots were created by the jab,” said Professor Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah, Chairman of the National Technical Advisory Committee for Covid-19, to The New Nation on Saturday.
He however, suggested the government not to take the matter lightly and monitor the jab recipients side effects closely.
“It is a serious matter, because it is an issue of life saving, so that everything should have to be taken seriously and nothing could be said without research and close observation,” the Professor said.
When contacted, Professor Dr. Muzaherul Huq, former Advisor of the World Health Organisation (WHO) told The New Nation on Saturday, “WHO is yet to approve any vaccine for use against covid spreading, but approved only for emergency using as part of the research as it is the new virus. In these circumstances, the AstraZeneca vaccine also has to be observed closely.”
He also suggested the government not to depend a lone vaccine and search for other jabs to fight against the pandemic.
When contacted, Professor Dr. Nasima Sultana, Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) told The New Nation on Saturday, “We always follow the WHO’s directives. WHO asked us to continue the inoculation with the AstraZeneca vaccine.”
Replying to a question about occurring infections among the vaccine recipients, she said, “We and the AstraZeneca never said that taking one shot any one be safe from infection. We asked all always to follow health rules even taking the jab’s first dose.” European countries like, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Bulgaria have stopped using the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, joining a number of European countries that have halted its use after reports that some recipients developed serious blood clots.
Denmark on Thursday said that it will not use AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine for two weeks after reports that some recipients had developed serious blood clots, and in one case might have died as a result.
Norway also announced later on Thursday that it was also halting the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Four other European countries- Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Latvia- have also stopped inoculations with the AstraZeneca vaccine with an investigation to continue there.
Austria has stopped using a batch of AstraZeneca shots saying it has in investigation about the vaccines adverse effect among the recipients.
Earlier, South Africa suspended use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine on February 8 saying it failed to clearly stop virus variant.
AstraZeneca meanwhile told Reuters news agency in a written statement the safety of its vaccine had been extensively studied in human trials, and peer-reviewed data had confirmed the vaccine was generally well tolerated.
The drugmaker said earlier this week its shots were subject to strict and rigorous quality controls and that there had been “no confirmed serious adverse events associated with the vaccine”. It also said it was in contact with Austrian authorities and would fully support their investigation.
But the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed confidence over the vaccine’s safety and encouraged its continued rollout.
“Yes, we should continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters on Friday.
“There is no indication of not to use it,” she added.
