DIRECTORS of public health across the North-East have released a statement reassuring residents over blood clot concerns with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

In a joint statement, the region's directors of public health, have reassured people that they consider the AstraZeneca vaccine to be safe and effective after European countries halted its use.

Signatories include Penny Spring, of Darlington Council, Amanda Healy, of Durham Council and Sarah Bowman-Abouna, of Stockton, as well as health experts from the North-East's eight other local authorities.

The said: "There have been 37 reports of potentially serious blood clots out of the 17 million doses given to people across the EU - that's actually a lower number of incidents than you'd expect to see in the population.

"The UK regulator (the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (the European regulator for medicines and vaccines) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have all said there is no indication that the vaccine causes blood clots and have recommended its continued use. With that in mind, it is difficult to understand why some EU countries have suspended its use.  

"What people probably don't know is that there is evidence that if you get Covid-19, you're at higher risk of developing blood clots during infection, and those that do have an increased risk of dying.

"We want to reassure people that, on the basis of current evidence, we consider the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to be safe and effective. All adverse effects are closely monitored through the same tried and tested process we use for other medicines.  

"While we understand people might be worried, this vaccine is the best way of protecting yourself and your family from this awful virus, and to help us all look forward to a brighter future.

"If you are offered vaccination in the coming days, we would strongly urge you to take it."

The Prime Minister is due to receive his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine as a host of European countries announced they would return to using the jab following fresh safety assurances.

A slew of countries, including Germany and France, reversed their decision to temporarily pause its use over blood clot concerns after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) called the vaccine “safe and effective”.

France, Italy and Germany, along with Cyprus, Latvia and Lithuania, have confirmed they will resume rollout of the Oxford shot on Friday, while Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands said they will follow suit next week, although Spain said it could exclude certain groups.

However Norway, Sweden and Denmark have said they will continue their hold on the AstraZeneca jab, despite the EMA’s ruling.

All three countries said the pause would continue while they conduct their own independent reviews of the jab’s safety.