Denmark has extended its suspension of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab for three weeks, as officials continue to investigate reports that it causes blood clots.

On 11 March, Denmark joined Norway, Austria, Italy and Iceland to suspend the use of the vaccine after reports of blood blots.

Originally the rollout of the coronavirus jab was paused for 14 days as a precautionary measure but Danish officials said on 25 March that this has been extended by three weeks as they conducted their own investigations.

Live COVID updates from across the UK and around the world

Most European countries resumed immunisation programmes after the European Union’s medicines watchdog deemed it safe and effective.

Watch Through The Storm: Inside The COVID Wards on Sky Documentaries on Thursday at 9pm and on Sky News on Friday at 9pm.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

“Right now, we believe that our basis for making a final decision on the further use of the COVID-19 vaccine by AstraZeneca is too uncertain,” Soeren Brostroem, head of the Danish Health Agency, said.

He said: “Many studies have been launched, but we do not yet have any conclusions. That is why we have decided to extend the break.”

Nordic countries, including Denmark and Sweden, remain cautious and are conducting their own investigations.

The Danish Health and Medicines Authority took the decision to stop using the jab after reports that a 60-year-old woman died with blood clots in several parts of her body a week after she received the vaccine.

A second person died in Demark after getting the jab, but health authorities said that they have no evidence the vaccine was responsible for either death.

Subscribe to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

The decision “was made on the basis of presumed side effects,” Tanja Erichsen of the Danish Medicines Agency said.

“I would like to emphasise that I am not talking about ordinary blood clots,” Ms Erichsen said.

“It is not about blood clots in the arms, legs and lungs.

“It can’t be ruled out that there is a connection between the vaccine and the very rare blood clot cases.”

The suspension will last until 18 April.

About 150,000 people in Denmark have received the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Sweden had also suspended the rollout but it announced on 25 March that it will begin vaccinating over 65s again.

The AstraZeneca rollout in the EU has been bumpy due to shortages, delays and concerns from some states over its use in over 65s.

On 24 March, AstraZeneca hit back at claims that it had stockpiled 29 million doses of the vaccine in a factory near Rome.

The development comes as the European Commission calls for tougher controls on coronavirus vaccine exports to Britain and other areas with much higher vaccination rates.

Related posts:

Dutch crime journalist in ‘serious condition’ after being shot in Amsterdam China capable of mounting ‘full-scale’ invasion by 2025, Taiwan says Taliban thought former British soldier was ‘like James Bond’ and held him in ‘Guantanamo Bay’-style jail Why is malaria so dangerous and why do we need a vaccine? Britain tracked Chinese submarines and was ready to intercept jets in South China Sea, officers reveal Brazilian singer and Latin Grammy winner dies in plane crash en route to concert Iraq prime minister survives ‘explosives-laden drone’ assassination attempt Australian woman wins $1m – just for getting vaccinated against COVID-19 US woman accused of shooting and killing neighbour after bouncy castle was allegedly stolen Truss heads to Moscow for Ukraine talks as ambassador says Russia ‘behaving like racketeer’ Why are Canadian truckers protesting and what is the ‘Freedom Convoy’? Ireland’s military cannot properly defend country, says ‘hard-hitting’ and ‘blunt’ report