LONDON – The European Union is facing further shortfalls in its coronavirus inoculation programme after pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said production problems and export restrictions will reduce planned deliveries of its vaccine.
The Anglo-Swedish firm’s image has already taken a hit with several countries suspending the roll-out of its jab over blood clot fears, even as the World Health Organisation (WHO) said there is no reason to stop using it.
It is the latest blow for the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is the cheapest aimed at fighting back against a pandemic that has claimed more than 2.6 million lives worldwide.
Germany has reported adverse effects due to the delay, with the state of Thuringia cancelling appointments and suspending a pilot project for general practitioners to administer the vaccine.
Lothar Wieler, head of the country’s disease control agency, Robert Koch Institute, warned that “the third wave has already started in Germany”.
Despite the worrying signs, thousands joined protests in German cities yesterday against anti-Covid-19 measures.
‘Razor’s edge’
French Prime Minister Jean Castex said his government still expects to exceed its target of 10 million vaccinated by April 15, though he said some labs are not respecting delivery deadlines.
He defended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine despite precautions taken by other nations.
“I would not allow myself to send poison to my fellow citizens,” he said during a visit to a vaccination centre.
He also did not rule out a new lockdown in the Ile-de-France region, which is home to the capital, Paris, saying he is ready to take “additional measures” if necessary.
“We are on a razor’s edge,” he told Le Monde newspaper, as the first three intensive care patients were moved from Ile-de-France to nearby regions yesterday to relieve the pressure on overwhelmed hospitals in the capital.
Oxygen shortage
The United States, the country hit hardest by the pandemic, has ramped up its vaccination programme after a shaky start.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said 100 million doses have been administered so far, just less than a third of the total given worldwide.
Tunisia and Ethiopia both launched vaccination campaigns yesterday, with Ethiopian officials flagging an alarming rise in cases.
There was outrage in Jordan after at least seven Covid-19 patients died yesterday when a hospital ran out of oxygen.
“I have submitted my resignation to the prime minister,” said the health minister, Nazir Obeidat, adding that he takes “full moral responsibility” for what happened.
‘Blood clot fears’
Several countries suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine this week, with Norway reporting an “unexpected death from a brain haemorrhage” after receiving the shot.
Norwegian officials yesterday added that the country has “received several adverse event reports about younger vaccinated people with bleeding under the skin” after getting the jab.
It also said it has received “three more reports of severe cases of blood clots or brain haemorrhages in younger people who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine”.
WHO, which said its vaccine advisory committee is examining the safety data coming in, has stressed that no causal link has been established between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clotting.
“Yes, we should continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine,” said WHO spokesman Margaret Harris on Friday, stressing that any concerns about safety must be investigated.
AstraZeneca insists that its jab is safe, adding that there is “no evidence” of higher blood clot risks.
Italy and Austria have banned the use of jabs from separate batches of AstraZeneca, and Thailand and Bulgaria this week said they will delay their roll-out.
Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Latvia, meanwhile, called for EU talks to discuss “huge disparities” in vaccine distribution, according to a letter published yesterday.
“If this system were to carry on, it would continue creating and exacerbating huge disparities among member states by this summer, whereby some would be able to reach herd immunity in a few weeks, while others would lag far behind.”
Italy on Friday announced tough new restrictions, with schools, restaurants, shops and museums ordered to close across most regions, including Rome and Milan, from next week. – AFP, March 14, 2021
