Germany, France and Italy suspend use of AstraZeneca vaccine

Flurry of suspensions follow reports that some people developed blood clots after receiving the shot.

Germany, France and Italy have suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine after several reports of blood clots in people who received the shot. The flurry of suspensions on Monday came after a number of other countries, mostly in Europe, halted their rollouts late last week. The World Health Organization (WHO) has backed the use of the vaccine and said it has seen no evidence that the shot had caused clotting in some people who received it. It is reviewing the reports related to shot and urged countries not to suspend vaccinations.