Trudeau Offers Reassurance on AstraZeneca Safety as European Countries Suspend Use

Trudeau Offers Reassurance on AstraZeneca Safety as European Countries Suspend Use
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds to a question during Question Period in the House of Commons on March 10, 2021 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/ The Canadian Press)
The Canadian Press
3/15/2021
Updated:
3/15/2021

MONTREAL—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is offering reassurances on the safety of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as more European countries suspend its use due to safety concerns.

Germany today joined the list of countries pausing their use of the AstraZeneca vaccine over reports of blood clots in some recipients, even though European regulators say there’s no evidence the shot is to blame.

Trudeau said today Health Canada regulators are constantly analyzing all the available information about vaccines and have guaranteed those approved in Canada are safe for use.

The prime minister told reporters in Montreal none of the AstraZeneca doses Canada has received are from the batch linked to possible side effects reported in Europe.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault said at the same news conference that provincial health officials see no risk associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Trudeau is urging Canadians to get vaccinated as quickly as possible and to take the first vaccine offered to them.