AstraZeneca vaccinations resume in Europe, but skepticism may linger

Vaccinations with the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus shot resumed in the European Union’s three most populous nations on Friday, one day after the European medical regulator found it to be “safe and effective,” despite reports of rare blood clots as a potential side effect.

After a week-long suspension, European governments are hoping they can rebuild trust in the vaccine, which remains a key element of the E.U.’s inoculation strategy. French Prime Minister Jean Castex, 55, was among the first in the country to get the shot Friday afternoon, in what he said was a show of

“complete confidence.” AstraZeneca vaccinations also resumed in Italy, Germany and several smaller countries.

But for many Europeans, the stoppage amplified doubts about a vaccine that has already faced months of contention related to its clinical trials and rollout.

“The anxiety and fear are great,” said Donatella Di Carlo, 49, a primary school teacher, who was among the thousands of people in Rome with an appointment Friday for the AstraZeneca jab. Di Carlo said she only decided to accept it because the risks of the virus - at a time when variants were spreading across the country - felt higher than those posed by the vaccine.

“My family doctor insisted I take it,” Di Carlo said. “She said it would be more dangerous not to take it.”

In a sign of more potential difficulties ahead, French Health Minister Olivier Véran said the country’s health advisory body was now recommending AstraZeneca vaccinations only for people aged 55 or older. Just weeks ago, the same authority lifted a recommendation that only adults under 65 should receive the AstraZeneca shot.