Belgium is not changing its position as several countries have decided to suspend the vaccines provided by AstraZeneca.
Lhe Superior Health Council (CSS) maintained its decision to continue vaccination against the coronavirus with the AstraZeneca vaccine in Belgium. The council therefore aligns itself with the position of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the EMA, in favor of the continuation of the campaign, while specifying that it would follow the European agency if it were to change. notice.
Yves Van Laethem, the interfederal spokesperson for the fight against the coronavirus, explains this decision, which may surprise when many countries have decided as a precautionary principle to suspend the vaccination of the doses manufactured by AstraZeneca.
According to the spokesperson, the decision taken in most countries is a decision taken by the politicians much more than by the security agencies. “We find ourselves in a kind of game of political dominoes that, because of fear, the authorities decide to suspend the campaigns. We decided for reasons which seem scientific to us to continue this campaign and to align ourselves with scientific decisions taken by the authorities. I hope that the population will understand that it is in their interest to really get vaccinated, ”he explains.
The virologist Steven Van Gucht also approved Monday evening, in the program Terzake (VRT), the choice of Belgium to continue. “Continually pressing pause” leads to more contamination, he said.
Fears
Fears have arisen in recent days following thrombosis in people who had been vaccinated with the product AstraZeneca. The EMA is reviewing these cases but has already indicated that there does not appear to be more thrombosis among this population than normal.
“Among those who have been infected and become ill, there are often cases of thrombosis”, also adds the minister, who repeats that it is a question of balancing the benefits and the risks.
Several European countries, including France, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy, have suspended administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine as a precaution after reports of “thromboembolic incidents” among people vaccinated with this product.
The EMA continues to review these incidents. Its risk assessment committee will continue its analysis on Tuesday and will conclude at an extraordinary meeting convened on Thursday.