It's nothing to do with countries suspending or stopping its use. That is absolutely fine, although it's now apparent rather a political expediency than medical,its the suspending, stopping and general attacking of AZ vaccine combined with trying to get our supplies of the same. And trying to ban export of a drug they actually don't want.
By any sane, objective assessment EU, or its constituent countries if you are in awe of EU and can't accept it has faults, has performed terribly in vaccine roll out.
I suspect it will damage EU leaders, especially Von Leyen, and heads of the powerful member countries.
Makron and Merkel have been badly affected by the group's and their own performances recently. Could see it costing Makron and Merkel their positions.
There were an extra 623,000 deaths in the UK in the year to mid-2018 – an increase of 3%.
theconversation.com
Interesting that this report was written pre covid and death rates higher in each age group than equivalent death rates in AZ vaccinated groups.
Noticed yesterday that Germany quoted 36 clotting incidents with 9 deaths from 2.72 million jabs.
The obvious questions that JCVI must be answering differently to German counterpart is
A) Are those 9 deaths over and above deaths from similar cohorts of non vaccinated.. (ie from previous years data)
B) Do those 9 deaths have detrimental effect on death rate or are they part of it?
C) Are the deaths linked to vaccine? If so what is the risk?
D) Is that risk greater or lesser than death risk from Covid.
I suspect we all know the answers to these questions.
9 deaths from 2.7 million vaccinated with no proven link is a very small risk even if link exists.
So, why have Germans suspended AZ for under 60s? They are attempting to prove to be shown as "careful". They are hoping the low confidence will increase when vaccine is restarted. I suspect the reverse will happen.
Putting it in perspective.
Assume only a 0.1% death rate for covid. (it's about that for a healthy 40 Yr old)
Assume only a 95% efficiency for AZ vaccine saving life. (Its actually higher).
The vaccine potentially saves 2500 lives from vaccinating 2.7 million.
It potentially cost 9 lives.
The maths simply does not add up to suspend or hold up vaccine.