WHO representative in Armenia says AstraZeneca vaccine is effective and safe

AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine is effective and safe, Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Armenia Yegor Zaitsev told reporters.

There was no proven link between patients' thromboembolic events and the vaccine, he said - although the link is still being studied. The most serious complication that can happen is anaphylactic shock, which in theory can occur from any drug or substance.

Anaphylactic shock is considered a manageable complication, and if the nursing staff knows how to behave and how to properly help the patient, serious problems and deaths can be avoided.

As the head of the immunization program of the Ministry of Health of Armenia, Gayane Sahakyan, noted, most often, after the introduction of this vaccine, complications such as redness and pain at the injection site are recorded.

According to her, more than 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have already been administered, of which 11 million doses are in the UK, where this vaccine is produced. The data were encouraging, with no proven vaccine-related deaths. There were 7 cases of thromboembolism and about 18 cases of sinus thromboembolism of the brain. But the connection with the vaccine has not been proven, while the coronavirus itself, according to a specialist, can lead to such complications.

Armenia has imported 24,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine.

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