Updated: 1pm 15/03/21
Immunologist Professor Luke O’Neill has expressed his disappointment and concern at the National Immunisation Advisory Committee’s decision to "pause" the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
NIAC’s decision was "disturbing" he told Newstalk’ Pat Kenny show and was essentially putting the 30,000 people due to be vaccinated this week “at risk.”
"They are not trusting the science, 17 million people have had this vaccine and there is no evidence of any kind that it is causing blood clots. Even worse, we know the virus itself causes blood clots - there is a high risk of that - so they are putting 30,000 people at risk now who aren’t getting vaccinated this week.
"I think it is very disturbing to be honest," he said.
Prof O’Neill said the science behind the AstraZeneca vaccine “absolutely” vindicated its use.
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency had issued a statement on Sunday night that while they were aware of the decision taken here, he said, and their position was that people should still go ahead and get the vaccine.
Prof O’Neill also pointed out that last week the EMA had advised to keep using the AstraZeneca vaccine as the benefits outweighed the risks.
The decision of NIAC and the EMA was "hugely cautious" but it meant that 30,000 people would not be vaccinated this week.
"These are high-risk vulnerable people so they better make their minds up on this one I think."
Blood clots
NIAC took the decision to halt the use of the AstraZeneca jab while an investigation is carried out to determiner whether a small cluster of serious blood clot events in Norway were completely random or linked to the vaccine.
Approximately one in five of the total vaccine doses given in Ireland so far have been the AstraZeneca formula, however, it was due to account for a much bigger share this week as the vaccination of medically vulnerable people was expected to be ramped up.
The HSE was planning to give 80,000 doses this week, but has now reduced this week's estimates to 50,000.
The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly says blood clots have been observed before, but nothing more than expected.
"What was different about the notification from Norway was there was blood clotting in the brain, which obviously can be serious, and that it was in younger people.
"NIAC and the [Health Products Regulatory Authority] met, and they considered that, and they have taken a very cautious approach," Mr Donnelly said.
In a statement on Sunday evening, AstraZeneca said there had only been a small number of blood clotting cases among the 17 million people who have received the vaccine in the EU and UK to date.
The drugmaker said there has been 15 cases of deep vein thrombosis and 22 of pulmonary embolism in that group up to last week.
"This is much lower than would be expected to occur naturally," the company said.
Those things can happen in the general population
Immunologist, Professor Kingston Mills, said people should not jump to conclusions.
"Sometimes it is very difficult to link event that happen after vaccination to the actual vaccine, because those things can happen in the general population, and this could be one of them.
The vaccination of elderly people with the Pfizer and Moderna jabs will go ahead as scheduled.
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning, HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said the temporary suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine is prudent to maintain confidence in the jab.
"Our own HPRA have said there's no indication the vaccine causes the conditions, but they also noted the importance of robust investigation, so as to assure the public.
"When we come out of this people will be, I hope, assured that we can stop whenever there is a sequence such as this, we can assess, pause and then move one once we have more robust evidence and that's all that's happening here," Dr Henry said.
