Denmark suspends AstraZeneca use

Investigation launched into severe and in cases fatal blood clots

Denmark’s National Health Board has suspended all vaccinations using the AstraZeneca vaccine “until further notice.” 

Sundhedsstyrelsen says there have been reports of severe blood clots among those vaccinated with AstraZeneca in Europe, and in one case in Denmark, a death. 

The health agency adds “At present, it cannot be concluded whether there is a link between the vaccine and the blood clots.” The Danish Health and Medicines Authority says the suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine is a “precautionary measure.” 

Denmark’s Health Minister Magnus Heunicke has tweeted that “it is not currently possible to conclude whether there is a connection [to the AstraZeneca vaccine] but we must act quickly and investigate thoroughly.” 

The European Medicines Agency is now investigating as cases of severe blood clots after AstraZeneca vaccinations have been reported in both Denmark and Austria. The agency will make a new assessment on their investigations in week 12. 

National Board of Health Director Søren Brostrøm says this was not an easy decision. 

“We are in the middle of the largest and most important vaccination rollout in Danish history and right now we need all the vaccines we can get. But because we vaccinate so many, we also need to respond with timely care when we learn of possible serious side effects. We need to clarify this before we can continue to use the vaccine from AstraZeneca.”

Brostrøm emphasizes that at this point, all evidence points to the AstraZeneca vaccine as being safe and effective.

“But both we and the Danish Medicines Agency have to react to reports of possible serious side effects, both from Denmark and other European countries. It shows that the monitoring system works. Therefore, we react promptly until we have investigated whether there is a connection between the vaccine and the possible side effects.” 

Norway’s Public Health Institute says it is now reassessing use of the AstraZeneca vaccine with a decision to come shortly. 

Just yesterday the EMA said preliminary results in an investigation into four cases of severe blood clots resulting in one death in Austria did not appear to show a link to the AstraZeneca vaccine. It also noted blood clotting is not a known side effect of any vaccine currently approved for use in the E.U.

Other than Denmark other European countries have also paused AstraZeneca use including Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg, and Lithuania.

Vaccination Schedule

All booked times and invitations for vaccination using the AstraZeneca vaccine are canceled throwing another monkey-wrench into Denmark’s vaccination campaign. 

The Danish Health and Medicines Authority says has removed AstraZeneca from the vaccine schedule and it says if it stays that way then the worst case scenario will result in the vaccination calendar being pushed into August. Last week, vaccine supply chain issues already pushed back the end date for getting everyone vaccinated from June 27th into late July. 

It is important to note the vaccination schedule could change again if AstraZeneca is cleared for use when everything is reassessed in week 12.