[GTranslate]TORONTO – Global concern is growing around the AstraZeneca vaccine. Yesterday, following the reporting of some cases of thrombosis in newly vaccinated patients, the administration of the vaccine was suspended in Italy, Germany and France. In recent days, the stop had also arrived in the Netherlands, Ireland, Denmark, Austria, Norway, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.  In Europe, for the time being, caution has been chosen and the various governments are awaiting a final opinion from EMA, the European Medicines Agency. Already yesterday, during a hearing in the European Parliament, the head of Ema’s vaccination strategy Marco Cavaleri had the safety of the vaccine in this house. “The relationship between benefits and risks for the AstraZeneca anti-Covid vaccine is considered positive, and we see no problem in continuing vaccinations using this vaccine. We are examining the reported data and lethal events to try to understand if there are specific clusters of cases related to certain types of pathologies or the medical status of the subjects”, he added, stressing that so far there is no evidence that “demonstrates an emerging risk that affects the benefit/risk ratio”.

The World Health Organization is also reviewing reports of the AstraZeneca vaccine. In any case, according to the Who, there is currently no evidence of a link between the incidents that occurred and the administration of the serum. “As soon as the Who has a complete picture of these events, the public will immediately be informed of the conclusions of these assessments and any unlikely changes related to the current recommendations,” explained the Organization’s spokesman, Christian Lindmeier.

Here in Canada, meanwhile, the administration of AstraZeneca continues, for now limited to people in the 60-64 age group and no alarming cases have been reported at the moment. Justin Trudeau also spoke on the issue yesterday. “Our experts continue to collect data and reassure us that all vaccines offered in Canada are safe and effective, including those of AstraZeneca,” said the prime minister. Health Canada spokesperson Tammy Jarbeau said the agency is aware of reports of adverse events in Europe and would “like to reassure Canadians that the benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh its risks.” “Health Canada authorized the vaccine based on a thorough, independent review of the evidence and determined that it meets Canada’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements,” Jarbeau said.

The debate on vaccine safety continues even among experts. One of the most authoritative virologists, Andrea Crisanti, spoke in Italy. “I made the Pfizer vaccine, but today I would make AstraZeneca if it was the only vaccine available,” he told the program in Piazzapulita. “There is no evidence that this vaccine causes serious complications. England vaccinated 10 million people with AstraZeneca.”

In any case, whether or not it is justified by science, the opinion among people that AstraZeneca is a second-class vaccine is also gaining its way into Canada. In Montreal over the weekend, there were cases of people refusing to get vaccinated after learning they were going to get this vaccine: the local Public Health Unit in Montreal North confirmed that 8% of the people who showed up at the vaccination center decided not to get vaccinated. Now, that the new doubts and fears that come from Europe, this percentage is set to rise.