EU countries to restart AstraZeneca vaccine after EMA said it is safe

Italy, France, Germany, and Spain plan to restart AstraZeneca vaccinations after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) declared that the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine is "safe and efficient."

A number of European countries had suspended the jab over unconfirmed reports of an enhanced rate of blood clots among objects that prompted the EMA to launch a safety review to see if there was a link between the vaccine and the blood clots.

"Its benefits in keeping people from COVID-19 with the associated risks of death and hospitalization exceed the possible risks," EMA executive director Emer Cooke said at a press conference.

She passed, however, that the regulator "cannot rule out definitively a link between these cases and the vaccine."

Following the EMA's announcement, Italy said it would restart its rollout of AstraZeneca shots on Friday.

French government officials said they would do the same, with Prime Minister Jean Castex receiving the vaccine on Friday afternoon to show government confidence in the jab.

Spain and Germany also stated that they would restart AstraZeneca vaccinations.

However, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark said they would continue their suspension of the jabs while reviewing the EMA verdict.

Vaccines 'help prevent death and hospitalization', says EMA

Cooke said the security review board would continue their investigations into blood conditions related to vaccines.

"We have to constantly remind us what a tough situation we're in. This pandemic is costing lives. We have vaccines that are safe and effective that can help stop death and hospitalization. We need to use those vaccines within the bonds that we have them," Cooke said later on in the press conference.

The EMA's opinion was hotly anticipated when the European Union, in the midst of a vaccine deficiency, is counting on millions of doses of this vaccine developed by British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca.

Earlier on Wednesday, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) also supported the continued usage of the Astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine.