Copenhagen:
Denmark stated Monday it will bar the Johnson & Johnson vaccine from its Covid inoculation drive more than worries about blood clots, following a comparable move against the AstraZeneca jab.
The Danish Health Authority noted that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) “has concluded that there is a possible link between rare but severe cases of blood clots” and the Johnson & Johnson drug.
Both the EMA and the World Health Organization have nonetheless recommmended the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on the basis that the positive aspects outweigh the dangers.
But Danish well being officials stated the existing favourable epidemiological predicament in the Scandinavian nation meant it could do with out the J&J jab, and would rely only on the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.
“The Danish Health Authority has concluded that the benefits of using the Covid-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson do not outweigh the risk of causing the possible adverse effect… in those who receive the vaccine,” the authority stated in a statement.
“Therefore, the Danish Health Authority will continue the Danish mass vaccination programme against Covid-19 without the Covid-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson,” it added.
The well being authority noted Denmark’s epidemic was at the moment “under control,” and that “the vaccination rollout is progressing satisfactorily with other available vaccines.”
But it acknowledged that the choice would delay the vaccination campaign.
In mid-April, Denmark announced it was cutting the AstraZeneca vaccine from its vaccination campaign right after placing it on hold a month earlier, citing comparable issues, becoming the initially nation in Europe to fully reduce the vaccine.
Denmark has stated it could re-evaluate the use of each vaccines should really the predicament alter.
“New knowledge may emerge, or the situation in Denmark may change, for example, in terms of infection pressure, disease burden, epidemic control, or other vaccines’ availability,” the well being authority stated.
Of Denmark’s 5.8 million inhabitants, 11.5 % are completely vaccinated and 23.4 % have received a initially dose of the vaccine.
Currently there are 4 vaccines authorized for use in the EU: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson — the latter two reserved for older persons in most European nations.
In April, the US temporarily suspended the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine right after it was linked to uncommon instances of thrombosis.
()