Rohit Shishodia
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that vaccination against Covid-19 will not reduce illness or deaths from other causes. WHO’s statement has come after some countries in the European Union have temporarily suspended use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as a precautionary measure based on reports of rare blood coagulation disorders in persons who had received the vaccine.

This vaccine with the name of Covishield is also currently administered to people in India.

Some reports suggest thromboembolic events after vaccination. The WHO has pointed out that the thromboembolic events are known to occur frequently. Venous thromboembolism is the third most common cardiovascular disease globally.

“In extensive vaccination campaigns, it is routine for countries to signal potential adverse events following immunization. This does not necessarily mean that the events are linked to vaccination itself, but it is good practice to investigate them. It also shows that the surveillance system works and that effective controls are in place,” said the WHO in a statement issued on March 17, 2021.  

The UN health agency has assured that it is in regular contact with the European Medicines Agency and regulators around the world for the latest information on Covid-19 vaccine safety.

“The WHO Covid-19 Subcommittee of the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety is carefully assessing the latest available safety data for the AstraZeneca vaccine. Once that review is completed, WHO will immediately communicate the findings to the public,” stated the WHO.

“At this time, WHO considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue,” reads the WHO statement.