Spain suspends use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine for 15 days — A health worker displays a vial containing the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, in Suresnes, on February 6, 2021, on the start of a vaccination campaign for health workers with the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine. – The top French medical authority Haute autorité de Santé has approved the vaccine for use in France, but only for people under 65, echoing decisions made in Sweden, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland over concerns about a lack of data on the effectiveness of the vaccine for over 65s. (Photo by Alain JOCARD / AFP)

Spain’s health ministry on Monday announced the immediate suspension of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine for a minimum of 15 days following reports of potential adverse effects including possible blood clots.

The temporary ban comes following similar moves earlier by Germany, Italy and France despite the European Medicines Agency (EMA) reiterating that the vaccine’s benefits “continue to outweigh its risks.”

As countries continue to halt the use of the AstraZeneca jabs either entirely or from specific batches, the World Health Organization said it was reviewing the reports, but that the blood clots are not necessarily linked to the shots.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom said earlier the organization’s Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety is reviewing the available data and is scheduled to meet tomorrow on the same.