The World Health Organization (WHO) has backed the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine’s safety in the wake of a number of countries suspending the rollout of the jab over blood clot fears.

Also Read | Quad summit: With eyes on China, US and allies launch vaccine plan

The WHO said that its vaccines advisory committee was examining safety data from around the world, adding that so far there have been no links between the jab and clotting, AFP reported. 

“Yes, we should continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris added, stressing that any concerns over safety must be investigated. 

The British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca has insisted that its vaccine is safe and that there is “no evidence” of higher risks of blood clots. 

The doubts over the AstraZeneca jab has added to the European Union’s troubles with the vaccine’s distribution.

Also Read | US completes administration of 100 million vaccine shots: CDC

As a precautionary measure, Denmark, Norway and Iceland have paused the use of the vaccine after isolated reports of recipients developing blood clots. 

Italy and Austria have also banned the use of shots from separate AstraZeneca batches while Thailand and Bulgaria confirmed earlier this week they will delay their rollout. 

But several other countries, including Australia, said they would continue their rollouts as they had found no reason to alter course. Canada also said there was no evidence the jab causes adverse reactions.

In a fresh hit, the EU’s drug regulator said severe allergies should be added to the possible side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine after some likely links were found in Britain.

Also Read | Canada orders Amazon warehouse to shut down amid COVID-19 outbreak

Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz suggested some European countries may have signed “secret contracts” with vaccine companies to receive more doses than they were entitled to based on EU rules.

EU members have agreed that vaccines should be distributed among countries based on population size, but Kurz said that after comparing the total procurement figures of member states, it became clear that “deliveries do not follow the per capita quota system”.