Austrian authorities have suspended inoculations with a batch of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine as a precaution, while investigating the death of a person and the illness of another after taking the shots.
According to Reuters, a 49-year-old woman died as a result of severe coagulation disorders, while another woman, 35, developed a pulmonary embolism and is recovering.
A pulmonary embolism is an acute lung disease caused by a dislodged blood clot.
Austrian newspaper, Niederoesterreichische Nachrichten, as well as broadcaster, ORF, and the APA news agency said both women are nurses working at the Zwettl clinic.
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But AstraZeneca has stated that blood clotting is not among the known side effects of the vaccine.
“As a precautionary measure, the remaining stocks of the affected vaccine batch are no longer being issued or vaccinated,” Austrian authorities have said.
An AstraZeneca spokesman was quoted to have said: “There have been no confirmed serious adverse events associated with the vaccine,” adding that all batches are subject to strict and rigorous quality controls.
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“Trials and real-world experience so far suggests the vaccine is safe and effective and it had been approved for use in well over 50 countries.”
The development comes a day after President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, took the AstraZeneca vaccine on live television.
After taking the vaccine, there were rumours that the president reacted negatively to it.
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However, in a statement on Saturday, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson, said Buhari carried on effectively after the vaccination.
Nigeria took delivery of 3.9 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine and government officials have been taking the vaccine to boost the confidence of Nigerians to also take the vaccine.
While state governors have been scheduled to take the vaccine on March 10, Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello, has vowed stay away.
