After the temporary suspension of AstraZeneca vaccines in several countries, WHO issued an important statement confirming that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine exceed the risks of its use.
“Vaccination against COVID-19 will not reduce illness or deaths from other causes. Thromboembolic events are known to occur frequently. Venous thromboembolism is the third most common cardiovascular disease globally. n extensive vaccination campaigns, it is routine for countries to signal potential adverse events following immunization. This does not necessarily mean that the events are linked to the vaccination itself, but it is good practice to investigate them. It also shows that the surveillance system works and that effective controls are in place,” WHO statement reads.
The WHO also noticed that the organization is in regular contact with the European Medicines Agency and regulators around the world for the latest information on COVID-19 vaccine safety. In addition, the WHO COVID-19 Subcommittee of the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety is carefully assessing the latest available safety data for the AstraZeneca vaccine.