Thailand delays AstraZeneca vaccine rollout

Thailand has delayed the vaccine distribution of coronavirus vaccine made by AstraZeneca after reports of blood clots went viral.

The vaccination drive, which was scheduled to begin by Thailand’s Prime Minister today, has been canceled.

Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, an advisor for the country’s Covid-19 vaccine committee, reported to media, “Though the quality of AstraZeneca is good, some countries have asked for a delay,”

“We will delay [as well]”.

However, Thai Public health ministry officials have clarified that the vaccine jabs of AstraZeneca are different from those rolled out in Europe. They have also clarified that blood clot issues have not been commonly detected amongst Asians.

According to the international news agency, the first batch of 117,300 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines reached Thailand on Feb 24. Moreover, 200,000 doses of China’s Coronavac vaccine have also arrived.

Over 30,000 people in Thailand have received Coronavac jabs. Coronavac rollout will be continued in the country.

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Around 5 million people in Europe have received the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) clarified on Thursday that there was no indication the jab was causing the blood clots, adding that its “benefits continue to outweigh its risks”.

On the other hand, AstraZeneca said the drug’s safety has been studied extensively in clinical trials.