Countries to resume AstraZeneca jabs after EU agency deems it 'safe'
Several countries said Thursday they would resume AstraZeneca vaccinations after Europe's medical regulator said the jab is "safe and effective" and not associated with a higher blood clot risk after days of commotion around the shot. The closely-watched announcement from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) came after the WHO and Britain's health watchdog both said the vaccine was safe, adding that it was far riskier to not get the shot as several countries face a worrying rise in coronavirus cases. France on Thursday became the latest nation to toughen COVID restrictions, announcing a month-long limited lockdown for Paris and several other regions to try and stave off a third wave of infections that has overwhelmed hospitals. It also said it would resume AstraZeneca vaccinations, along with Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Germay and Bulgaria, after the EMA announcement. "The committee has come to a clear scientific conclusion: this is a safe and effective vaccine," EMA chief Emer Cooke said Thursday after a probe by the body's safety committee. "The committee also concluded that the vaccine is not associated with an increase in the overall risk of thromboembolic events or blood...