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Explainer: Why Germany, France and now Italy are refusing to use AstraZeneca’s Covid vaccine

Reports of dangerous blood clots in recently vaccinated patients has some countries scared about using the shot

Nurse Susann Rettberg handles a syringe of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in Saxony during the coronavirus pandemic on March 15, 2021 in Dippoldiswalde, Germany.
Nurse Susann Rettberg handles a syringe of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in Saxony during the coronavirus pandemic on March 15, 2021 in Dippoldiswalde, Germany. Photo: Jens Schlueter/Getty Images

Eight countries have temporarily suspended vaccinations using the treatment developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca over growing concerns of blood clot complications.

AstraZeneca has said a review of all available safety data from more than 17 million vaccinated people in the EU had shown “no evidence of an increased risk” of blood clots in any age group, gender, batch of shots or particular country.

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