Denmark on Wednesday became the first country in the world to stop the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine completely. The decision to stop the vaccination has a lot to do with the reports of the potential of causing a rare, yet serious blood clot issues. Denmark had scheduled the completion of its vaccination to July 25, and this decision is likely to delay the deadline to early August.
Denmark stops AstraZeneca Vaccine – What are the reasons?
It may be remembered that the Drug watchdog the European Medicines Agency had last week reported about the possible link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), a brain blood clot. The watchdog, however, has also pointed out that the risk from the COVID-19 was much greater than the risk of mortality from the very rare side effect. Following the finding, several European nations had suspended the vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Most of the nations have now resumed the vaccination with the jab after realising that the side effects and possibility of mortality due to it is considerably lower.
As the Danish health agency head Soren Brostrom says,
How does the AstraZeneca vaccine Work?
AstraZeneca vaccine uses the Adenovirus concept for treating the disease or introducing protection against it. The vaccine uses the modified version of the virus – called vector and introduces them into your body. The vector enters the body cells and produces a harmless version of the virus that causes COVID-19.
This artificially created virus is called spike protein. The cell recognises that the spike protein does not belong there and thus triggers the immune system to fight the invasion. In this process, our body and its cells efficiently learn how to protect themselves from the disease. If you find it a little difficult to understand, this information from CDC may be helpful.