Drip, Drip

Here we go again! Several European countries had stopped using the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. This was, they claimed, 'out of an abundance of caution', after some reports of an apparent link to a very rare blood clot condition. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) examined the data and ruled that the vaccine was safe and reliably protected against Covid-19. The European countries started administering the vaccine again. Now, Canada have suspended giving the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine to the under 55's (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/30/canada-suspends-use-of-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-for-those-under-55). The Canadian suspension is not linked to any local reports of blood clots. They haven't seen any. The concern relates to the earlier European reports, already examined (and rejected) by the EMA. The Canadians want more data from Europe. In the meantime, fewer people receive protection against Covid-19, an infection that causes serious illness and can kill. And vaccine hesitancy receives yet another boost.