Britain assures AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine shots safe despite 7 blood-clot deaths

*Regulators in the United Kingdom have reassured consumers that benefits of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine shots in preventing virus infection and its complications continue to outweigh any risks

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In spite of the fact that the United Kingdom (UK) has confirmed seven people dead from rare blood clots after receiving AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine jabs, raising questions about the safety of the widely used Coronavirus shot, regulatory authorities have said that benefits of the vaccine brand in preventing COVID-19 infection and its complications continue to outweigh any risks.

June Raine, Chief Executive of UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in an e-mailed statement Saturday, April 3 said announced the public “should continue to get their vaccine when invited to do so.”

According to MHRA, of 30 cases of clotting and low blood platelets identified in people in the country, who had received the shot through March 24, seven had died, agency report stated.

More than 18 million doses have been administered in the country and the regulator insists the shot is safe.

“The benefits of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca in preventing Covid-19 infection and its complications continue to outweigh any risks and the public should continue to get their vaccine when invited to do so,” Raine noted.

Australia also said Saturday that it was cooperating with regulators in the UK and the European Union (EU) after identifying a case of blood clotting April 2 in someone who had received the AstraZeneca shot.

The latest revelation will likely add to the growing concern over the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is the backbone of the UK’s successful inoculation campaign.

Sundry countries around the world, including Nigeria, are also relying on the AstraZeneca Plc to drive their immunisation rollout programmes.