Some patients in Cov & Warks have shown concern over jab after EU fears
HEALTH bosses have revealed that some patients have shown concerns over the Astrazeneca vaccine at centres across Coventry and Warwickshire.
It has been confirmed to the Telegraph by the Coventry and Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) that there have been incidents where people booked in for their jabs have been reticent about the use of the Astrazeneca vaccine.
A spokesman said that there have been a small number of cases in centres across the region where people have said they did not want the vaccine.
“We have seen a few examples where people have been unsure and not wanted the vaccine,” the CCG spokesman said.
“In these cases, appointment times have been a little longer as our staff have taken extra time to reassure and provide information.”
It follows a decision by France, Germany, Spain and Italy to suspend the use of the vaccine as they are waiting an investigation by the EU’S regulator into reports of clots in a small number of recipients.
But the UK has continued its roll-out of the vaccine and the government’s Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a statement.
Dr Phil Bryan, MHRA vaccines safety lead, said: “The benefits of the vaccine in preventing Covid19, with its associated risk of hospitalisation and death, far outweigh the risks of side effects. People should go and get their Covid-19 vaccine when asked to do so.
“It is still the case that it has not been confirmed the reported blood clots were caused by the Covid-19 Vaccine Astrazeneca. Blood clots can occur naturally and are not uncommon.
“Our role is to continually monitor safety during widespread use of a vaccine.
“We have in place a proactive strategy to do this.
“We also work closely with our public health and international partners in reviewing the effectiveness and impact of the vaccines to ensure the benefits continue to outweigh any possible side effects.”
George Eliot Hospital was one of just six hospitals across the country to be chosen to start the roll-out of the government’s Oxford/astrazeneca rollout on January 4.
It has since been used in vaccination centres across Coventry and Warwickshire.