March 17, 2021 THE Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH 7) assured the public and healthcare workers that the AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 is safe and effective. The Health Department’s regional office made the assurance after countries such as Germany, France, Italy and Spain temporarily suspended their use of the AstraZeneca vaccine following reports last week that there were inoculated individuals in Denmark and Norway who developed blood clots even if there was no proof that the blood clots were caused by the vaccine. “DOH 7 still believes in its safety and efficacy. And while we wait for scientific results in the investigation of the causality of the said issues, let’s continue to be vaccinated,” said Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, DOH 7 spokesperson.