Give a Vaccine a Bad Name?

Ever since the EU/UK fracas about vaccine favouritism, the Oxford/AstraZeneca shot has had a bad press. We had the heated debate, especially in France and Germany, about whether the evidence was there, to give it safely to the over 65s. The latest controversy concerns whether dangerous blood clots can be linked to Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine innoculations. Certainly, Covid-19 infections can cause blood clots. This suspicion has now resulted in Denmark, Iceland and Norway, delaying their use of this particular vaccine. They have recently been joined by Thailand, where the Scandinavian delays were noted (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/12/thailand-delays-oxford-vaccine-rollout-amid-blood-clot-reports). The WHO maintain there is no clear causal relationship, between using the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and the reported health problems (although they are investigating further). The WHO also advise that countries should carry on using the Oxford/AstraZeneca shot, noting that 268m doses of this vaccine have been administered, with no deaths. One can understand the caution of some national medical authorities but they should be careful about their pronouncements. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is the only one that is currently being produced at cost price (with information on how to manufacture it, being freely given to people who want it e.g. to India). The Oxford/AstraZeneca shot is also currently the mainstay of the WHO Covax scheme. The Covax scheme aims to get vaccine to poorer countries, as quickly as possible. Poorer countries might well include populations who prove vaccine reluctant. So, this dithering in Europe and Thailand won't help. Most people, across the planet, need to be vaccinated, before we will get anywhere near desired 'herd immunity'.