Boris Johnson will receive his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Some countries, including Germany and France, decided to temporarily pause AstraZeneca because of blood clot concerns after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) called the vaccine “safe and effective”.
The UK will receive Astrazeneca jab
France, Italy and Germany confirmed they resume the Oxford shot on Friday while Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands will follow suit next week, they said. French prime minister Jean Castex expected to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The UK Prime Minister said the Oxford jab is safe so does Pfizer. “The thing that isn’t safe is catching Covid, which is why it is so important that we all get our jabs as soon as our turn comes. The way to ensure this (lockdown easing) happens is to get that jab when your turn comes, so let’s get the jab done,” added Mr Johnson.
He forced the population to continue getting a shot to ensure the Covid-19 cases continue to plummet. So, England can ease the lockdown. A safe comment about the vaccine came after the EMA approved the vaccine is safe and effective then the benefits outweigh any risks. However, the regulator said it “cannot rule out definitively” a link between “a small number of cases of rare and unusual but very serious blood clotting disorders” and the vaccine, with investigations ongoing.
Emer Cooke, EMA executive director, said this situation was not unexpected, adding that “when you vaccinate millions of people” such reports of unusual events will occur. But the EMA has a conclusion there is no overall rise in the risk of blood clots with the vaccine, and in fact, it is likely to reduce the overall risk of clots.
The vaccine boost comes as Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden suggested Covid-19 “certificates”. It’s a document providing proof that a person has either been vaccinated against the virus or tested negative, which could be used as part of the drive to return to normality. Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove is currently leading a review on the “ethical, equalities, privacy, legal and operational aspects” of a so-called vaccine passport scheme, with the results due to be published by June 21 when all restrictions are planned to be scrapped.