Thread by @kakape

“More countries have suspended the use of AstraZeneca vaccines as a precautionary measure, after reports of blood clots in people who had received the vaccine from two batches produced in Europe”, says @DrTedros at @WHO presser on #covid19.

@DrTedros @WHO "This does not necessarily mean these events are linked to vaccination”, says @drtedros. "WHO’s Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety has been reviewing the available data, is in close contact with the @EMA_News and will meet tomorrow."

@DrTedros @WHO @EMA_News “But the greatest threat that most countries face now is lack of access to #COVID19 vaccines”, says @drtedros. "Almost every day, I receive calls from senior political leaders around the world, asking when their country will receive their vaccines through COVAX."

@DrTedros @WHO @EMA_News “Some of them are frustrated, and I understand why”, says @DrTedros. “They see some of the world’s richest countries buying enough vaccines to immunize their populations several times over, while their own countries have nothing."

@DrTedros @WHO @EMA_News I asked about AstraZeneca decisions:
“We are seeing this as a precautionary measure”, says @mariangelasimao. WHO committee is meeting tomorrow, EMA also meeting tomorrow and Thursday, she says. “So most likely during this week we will have more news."

@DrTedros @WHO @EMA_News @mariangelasimao "What we can say so far: It doesn't look like there are more cases than would be expected for the period in the general population”, says @mariangelasimao. From data so far, "there is not an increasing number of cases of thromboembolic events."

@DrTedros @WHO @EMA_News @mariangelasimao “While we need to continue to be very closely monitoring this, we do not want people to panic”, says @doctorsoumya. “We would, for the time being recommend that countries continue vaccinating with AstraZeneca.”
So to be clear: For now, WHO says AZ immunizations should continue.

@DrTedros @WHO @EMA_News @mariangelasimao @doctorsoumya Also pointed out by @mariangelasimao that safety concerns that have been raised are for AZ vaccine batches produced in Europe while AZ vaccine for COVAX is being produced in South Korea and in India.

@DrTedros @WHO @EMA_News @mariangelasimao @doctorsoumya “No drug or vaccine could ever be 100% safe”, says @doctorsoumya.
“You could have something that happens one in a million. But then you need to look at what's the benefit of protecting people against a disease that's killing millions against the potential risks."