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COVID-19: Cameroon cancels approval for AstraZeneca Vaccine shots

President Paul Biya of Cameroon

*Report indicates that it is clear if the Cameroonian authorities’ decision on reversing the earlier approval for AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine has been reviewed in view of the resumption of the use of the vaccine brand in Germany, France and Spain, among other European Union countries

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

As several countries are now reversing their temporary suspension of use of the vaccine and resuming the vaccination of their citizens against COVID-19, Cameroonian authorities have withdrawn the approval of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine shots in the central African country, citing earlier concerns by the European counterparts.

The country’s Scientific Council for Public Health Emergencies made the decision in a March 12 meeting, according to a statement obtained by Bloomberg Friday, March 19.

The move comes days before Cameroon was set to receive its first vaccines from the World Health Organisation-backed Covax facility, which is distributing free AstraZeneca vaccines to lower-income countries.

Perhaps for its inability to be up-to-date on vaccinations around the world, the statement cited the side effects of the vaccine are under investigation in Europe

“Once these investigations are concluded, the Scientific Council will reexamine the need to use the vaccine,” it said.

However, ConsumerConnect gathered that European Medicines Agency (EMA) report, which Cameroonian authorities were supposedly awaiting, has since clearly stated that countries could resume the use of the vaccine, as its investigation has not linked the random cases of blood clotting with the AstraZeneca vaccination.

European countries are now reversing their temporary suspension of use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and beginning the vaccination of their citizens, report said.

Emer Cooke, Head of EMA, has personally and publicly confirmed that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective

Subsequently, the Nigerian authorities and other top stakeholders have also intensified efforts at sensitising the citizenry on the need to get vaccinated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine jabs against the Coronavirus.

Report indicates that it was not immediately clear if the Cameroonian decision on reversing the earlier approval for the vaccine brand had been reviewed in view of the resumption of the use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine in Germany, France and Spain, among other European Union countries who had temporarily suspended the shots.

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