AstraZeneca was already making headlines for its inability to honor its commitments to Europeans and deliver the promised doses. For three weeks, the Anglo-Swedish laboratory has also faced growing skepticism about the qualities of its vaccine against Covid-19, suspected of causing dangerous side effects. In an interview with the Italian daily Il Messaggero, Tuesday April 6, Marco Cavaleri, head of vaccine strategy at the European Medicines Agency (EMA), confirmed the existence of a link between the vaccine and the cases of blood clots observed after its injection. “We can now say it, it is clear that there is a link with the vaccine”, did he declare.
A few dozen cases of thrombosis – some of which, very atypical, have resulted in death – have occurred in people, most often women under the age of 55, immunized with the AstraZeneca vaccine. In mid-March, many countries therefore suspended its administration. Until the EAJ said on March 18 that“No causal link with the vaccine has been proven”, without excluding it.
Since then, although the AEM continues its review, it has reaffirmed that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine continue to outweigh the risks that its administration may generate. On Tuesday, she announced that she would be able to deliver her conclusions, and any new recommendations, Wednesday or Thursday. Marco Cavaleri clearly did not want to wait. And told the Italian daily:
“We are trying to get a precise picture of what is going on, to define precisely this syndrome due to the vaccine. (…) Among those vaccinated, there is a higher number of cases of cerebral thrombosis in young people than we would expect. We will have to say that. “
A YouGov poll, released on March 22, showed that the temporary suspensions in mid-March had already scuttled confidence in France, where 61% of those surveyed thought the AstraZeneca vaccine was unsafe, in Germany (55% ), but also in Spain and Italy. Across the Rhine, according to the Forsa-RTL-NTV opinion poll carried out on March 31, it even arouses more reluctance than the Russian vaccine Sputnik V. Moreover, in several countries, the testimonies of citizens refusing to being injected with AstraZeneca are increasing. Particularly in France, where vaccine skepticism is widespread and where, according to figures from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), only 53% of the doses delivered by the manufacturer were administered.
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