European countries suspend AstraZeneca vaccinations despite advice from EU medicines regulator
From CNN’s Mick Krever and Eliza Mackintosh in London
Dutch Health Minister Hugo de Jonge arrives at the Binnenhof for the weekly Council of Ministers meeting in The Hague on March 5. Koen van Weel/ANP/AFP/Getty Images
The Netherlands on Sunday became the latest European nation to suspend AstraZeneca vaccinations over blood clot concerns despite advice from the European Union s medicines regulator that the benefits of the shot outweigh any potential risks.
Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Bulgaria and Ireland have also halted the vaccinations.
Dutch Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said on Monday that a “rare combination” of blood clots and lowered blood platelets in several AstraZeneca vaccine recipients in Norway and Denmark was “enough reason” to pause use of the vaccine in the Netherlands for two weeks.
More evidence severe Covid-19 can affect brain function, study finds
From CNN’s Christopher Rios
A new study published Monday provides additional evidence that severe Covid-19 can affect brain function.
The study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, used advanced techniques to examine the brains of people with severe Covid-19.
The study found that patients with severe Covid-19 – and no other clear reason for their neurologic symptoms – were more likely to have movement disorders such as tremor or seizures, frontal lobe syndrome or brainstem impairment, which can cause problems with planning and social behavior.
These patients were defined as having Covid-19-related encephalopathy, or CORE.
AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine benefits outweigh risks, European Medicines Agency reiterates
From CNN’s James Frater
A doctor holds a vial of the AstraZeneca vaccine at a drive-thru clinic in Milan, Italy, on March 15. Pier Cruciatti/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
The benefits of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine outweigh the risks, and the number of people developing blood clots after vaccination does not seem to be higher than in the general population, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said Monday.
The statement comes after Germany, France and Italy announced temporary suspensions of use of the vaccine.
The agency said it would hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to advise on “any further actions that may need to be taken.”
These are the European countries suspending use of the AstraZeneca vaccine
From CNN s Melissa Mahtani
A growing list of European countries have suspended use of AstraZeneca s Covid-19 vaccine as a precuationary measure pending review from Europe s health regulator.
France became the latest country to do so, following Italy and Germany earlier today, while they await a ruling by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Tuesday afternoon.
Previous guidance from the EMA has said the benefits of the shot outweigh any potential risks.
Here s a look at the European countries that have suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine so far:
Denmark: On Thursday, Denmark suspended AstraZeneca vaccinations for 14 days as a “precautionary measure” as it investigates “signs of a possible serious side effect in the form of fatal blood clots” after one Danish person died following vaccination, according to Danish health officials.
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