Although several more countries have suspended AstraZeneca vaccines’ use as a precautionary measure, it does not necessarily mean these events are linked to vaccination, the World Health Organization (WHO) head said.

“Several more countries have suspended the use of AstraZeneca vaccines as a precautionary measure, after reports of blood clots in people who had received the vaccine from two batches produced in Europe.

This does not necessarily mean these events are linked to vaccination, but it’s routine practice to investigate them, and it shows that the surveillance system works and that effective controls are in place”, - said WHO director-general Tedros Gebreyesus.

European countries, including Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway, have suspended the use of AstraZeneca in recent weeks after reports of people developing blood clots after receiving the jab.