National governments throughout the world have hardly covered themselves in glory since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, but some seem to be intent on compounding their original botched attempts to contain the virus by halting the roll-out of the vaccine in their respective countries.
Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Denmark and Norway’s knee-jerk reaction in suspending its use bears no relation to the facts.
Around 17 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered and there have been about 30 cases in Europe of people developing blood clots after receiving it.
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Gregor Smith, Scotland’s chief medical officer, has gone on record to say “looking at the data about blood clots both in Europe and the UK, it is no more common to have an episode of a blood clot than you would see in the general population – in fact it is somewhat less (my emphasis)”.
The countries that have suspended its use give succour to the anti-vaxers without any real evidence that their actions are in any way warranted. People are desperate to see a return to some form of normality and slowing down the vaccination programme only serves to delay the day that that will happen.
I have had the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and I am “champing at the bit” to get the second one and no baseless, logic-defying actions by some of Europe’s governments will deter me.