The use of the AstraZeneca vaccine has been suspended in six countries now.
Authorities in Denmark, Norway and Iceland have stopped the use of the vaccine over clotting issues, while Austria stopped using a batch of shots last week while investigating a death from coagulation disorders.
Ireland on Sunday temporarily suspended AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine “out of an abundance of caution”.
The move by Ireland’s National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) comes after “a report from the Norwegian Medicines Agency of four new reports of serious blood clotting events in adults after vaccination”.
“It has not been concluded that there is any link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and the blood clot cases and action has been taken pending receipt of further information”, Ireland's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Ronan Glynn said.
AstraZeneca Plc on Sunday said it conducted a review of people vaccinated which has shown no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots.
“A careful review of all available safety data of more than 17 million people vaccinated in the European Union and UK has shown no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or thrombocytopenia, in any defined age group, gender, batch or in any particular country,” the statement said.
The company said additional testing is being conducted by the company and the European health authorities and none of the re-tests have shown cause for concern.
In February, SA suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine after it showed less protection against a new variant discovered in the country.