Even as the race for Covid-19 vaccine has gained pace with several other vaccines lined up, health authorities in some European countries are facing resistance to AstraZeneca's vaccine after the side-effects in the hospital staff and other front-line workers have burdened the already-stretched services. Also Read: Ramdev Launches First Evidence Based Covid Medicine 'Coronil'; Modi Ministers Endorse It
What are the side effects reported?
France started with the AstraZeneca jab on February 6 after which staff at a hospital in Normandy reported harsher side-effects compared with the alternative vaccine from Pfizer and German partner BioNTech, as per the news agency Reuters report.
In view of the latest AstraZeneca shot being rolled out in Europe, health authorities in France issued guidance to stagger giving the shot while two regions in Sweden have halted the vaccination process while some essential workers in Germany are refusing it, as per the news agency Reuters. The news agency quoted the spokesperson of the Saint-Lo hospital in Normandy saying AstraZeneca caused more side-effects than the Pfizer vaccine. The spokesperson of the French hospital said between 10% and 15% of those vaccinated may have side-effects, but it is only a feverish state, fevers, nausea and within 12 hours it goes away.
What is the response of authorities?
While responding to the present resistance, the pharma company AstraZeneca said, these reactions reported are in line with the expected evidence gathered from its clinical trial programme. The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker stated that people receiving the jabs are closely monitored through routine pharmacovigilance activities and the company continues to watch the situation.
Such symptoms have been reported during the clinical trials for the AstraZeneca shot which may include a high temperature or headache. However, these are normal signs of the body generating an immune response and typically fades within a day or so.
Other shots approved in Europe are developed by Pfizer and Moderna and are also linked to the above temporary side-effects, including fever and fatigue. Following similar reports from other hospitals, the French medicines safety agency said on Feb. 11 that such side-effects were "known and described" but should be subject to surveillance with regard to their intensity.
The agency put out the advice after receiving 149 alerts of often strong flu-like side-effects from the AstraZeneca vaccine. During this period a total of 10,000 people received the shot nationwide.