COVID-19: Austria Suspends AstraZeneca Vaccine As One Died After Taking A Dose

AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccination exercise has been halted by the Austrian authority following the death of a citizen.

Naija News understands that Austrian authorities suspended the exercise as a precaution while it investigates the illness of another citizen after the demise of the later who has just received a dose of te vaccine.

Confirming the development on Sunday, March 7, a health agency in the country disclosed that the Federal Office for Safety in Health Care (BASG), received two reports in a temporal connection with a vaccination from the same batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the district clinic of Zwettl.

The report revealed the demise of a 49-year-old woman who suffered severe coagulation disorders and another woman, 35, who developed a pulmonary embolism.

Naija News understands that pulmonary embolism is an acute lung disease caused by a dislodged blood clot. Though authorities are yet to confirm the relationship of the reported situations with the vaccination.

Findings revealed that the two women were both nurses who worked at the Zwettl clinic. Meanwhile, BASG has said blood clotting was not among the known side effects of the vaccine.

“As a precautionary measure, the remaining stocks of the affected vaccine batch are no longer being issued or vaccinated,” BASG noted.

Speaking on the development, an AstraZeneca spokesman said: “There have been no confirmed serious adverse events associated with the vaccine,” adding that all batches are subject to strict and rigorous quality controls.

Meanwhile, the first person in Nigeria to be admitted with the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine who happens to be a medical doctor of the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr Cyprian Ngong has said he feels well taken the vaccine.

The frontline health worker who had his vaccination aired on national television, applaud the commencement of the exercise by President Muhammadu Buhari led government.