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Benefits outweigh the risks of AstraZeneca COVID shot as review continues: WHO

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Stephanie Nebehay, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/03/17/astrazeneca-hancock.jpg"/><figcaption>Vials labeled &quot;Astra Zeneca COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine&quot; and a syringe are seen in front of a displayed AstraZeneca logo, in this illustration photo taken March 14, 2021. <em>Dado Ruvic, Reuters/Illustration/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>GENEVA - The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that it considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue.</p><p>The WHO listed AstraZeneca and Oxford University&#x27;s vaccine for emergency use last month, widening access to the relatively inexpensive shot in the developing world.</p><p>More than a dozen European countries have suspended use of the vaccine this week amid concerns.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/03/17/21/why-have-some-countries-paused-the-astrazeneca-jab">Why have some countries paused the AstraZeneca jab?</a></li></ul><p>The European Medicines Agency (EMA), which will release its findings on Thursday, has said it was investigating reports of 30 cases of unusual blood disorders out of 5 million recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine. In total, 45 million COVID shots have been delivered across the region.</p><p>The WHO said its Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety is carefully assessing the latest available safety data for the AstraZeneca vaccine.</p><p>&quot;Once that review is completed, WHO will immediately communicate the findings to the public,&quot; WHO said in its statement a day after its experts met.</p><p>&quot;At this time, WHO considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue,&quot; it added.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/13/21/who-insists-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-safe-as-jab-faces-new-setbacks">WHO insists AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine safe as jab faces new setbacks</a></li></ul><p>Mike Ryan, WHO&#x27;s top emergency expert, told a social media event: &quot;We would advise people to keep taking the vaccines. Right now this virus has a much bigger chance of doing you a lot of harm than the very, very potentially tiny risks associated with this vaccine.&quot;</p><p>Ryan, referring to the AstraZeneca shot, said: &quot;I think we need to be very careful that we don&#x27;t end up over-reacting and damaging the product in people&#x27;s mind until we are absolutely sure that there actually is a problem. Right now, that is not certain. Let&#x27;s wait for the data to be looked at before we make any conclusions.&quot;</p><p>Kate O&#x27;Brien, director of WHO&#x27;s department of immunization, said that its panel was assessing whether adverse events such as blood clots were actually related to vaccination.</p><p>&quot;We should not over-interpret these specific numbers that come out of trials. They are highly effective vaccines, they are life-saving vaccines, they are safe vaccines and we should get on with deploying them,&quot; O&#x27;Brien told a news conference.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1641860" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>GENEVA - The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that it considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue.</p>

GENEVA - The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that it considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue.

Benefits outweigh the risks of AstraZeneca COVID shot as review continues: WHO

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Benefits outweigh the risks of AstraZeneca COVID shot as review continues: WHO

Stephanie Nebehay,

Reuters

Published Mar 18, 2021 05:44 AM PHT

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