in-cyprus 11 March 2021 - by Annie Charalambous
Cyprus is one of 17 EU countries which received a controversial batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine that Austria has already suspended after a person died 10 days after vaccination.
This is what a Health Ministry press release said on Thursday adding that by it was keeping its consignment on hold as a precaution and waiting for final confirmation.
Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden are the countries which have received the batch numbered ABV5300.
Austrian health authorities have suspended it after the person who died was diagnosed with multiple thrombosis and died 10 days after vaccination.
At the same time, a second person was hospitalised with pulmonary embolism, that is blockage in arteries in the lungs, after being vaccinated. The latter is now recovering.
As of Tuesday, March 9, two other reports of thromboembolic event cases had been received for this batch, according to the press release.
There is currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions, which are not listed as side effects with this vaccine.
Batch ABV5300 comprises one million doses of the vaccine.
Although a quality defect is considered unlikely at this stage, the batch quality is being investigated.
Cypriot Government statement:
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11-03-2021 09:02 |
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The Austrian national competent
Authority has suspended the use of a batch of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca
(batch number ABV5300) after a person was diagnosed with multiple thrombosis
(formation of blood clots within blood vessels) and died 10 days after
vaccination, and another was hospitalised with pulmonary embolism (blockage
in arteries in the lungs) after being vaccinated. The latter is now
recovering. As of 9 March 2021, two other reports of thromboembolic event
cases had been received for this batch. There is
currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions, which
are not listed as side effects with this vaccine. Batch
ABV5300 was delivered to 17 EU countries[1]
and comprises 1 million doses of the vaccine. Some EU countries[2]
have also subsequently suspended this batch as a precautionary measure, while
a full investigation is ongoing. Although a quality defect is considered
unlikely at this stage, the batch quality is being investigated. EMA’s
safety committee PRAC is reviewing this issue; it is investigating the cases
reported with the batch as well as all other cases of thromboembolic events,
and other conditions related to blood clots, reported post-vaccination. The
information available so far indicates that the number of thromboembolic
events in vaccinated people is no higher than that seen in the general
population. As of 9 March 2021, 22 cases of thromboembolic events had been
reported among the 3 million people vaccinated with COVID-19 Vaccine
AstraZeneca in the European Economic Area. PRAC will
continue its assessment of any potential issue with the batch as well as its review
of thromboembolic events and related conditions. EMA will
further communicate as the assessment progresses. [1]
Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Iceland,
Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain,
Sweden. [2]
As of 9 March 2021: Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia (MKY) |
