An Immunologist and Research Fellow at the West Africa Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) at the University of Ghana says Germany, France, Italy and Spain "overreacted" by suspending the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

These countries suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine over fears the shot may have caused some recipients to develop blood clots.

Also, 9 countries including the aforementioned have halted their vaccination exercise over similar claims.

However, speaking on the AM show, Tuesday, March 16, Dr Yaw Bediako debunked the claims stating that the purported linkage of the vaccine with blood clots has no scientific backing.

“You have to be very careful when you associate a vaccine with a problem. There has to be evidence and that is why the WHO has come out to say that there is no evidence linking vaccination with the blood clot.”

According to him, there is no cause for concern, as the number of blood clot cases recorded post-Covid-19 vaccination is not enough to be attributed to the vaccine.

“The only time we worry is when the proportion of the vaccinees get a problem, for instance, blood clot or whatever, is higher than the proportion of blood clot that you find in a general population who have not been vaccinated. So, in my opinion, Germany, France, they are just completely overreacting and its rather disappointing,” he stated.

Mr Bediako further stated that about 17 million people in the EU and UK have received a dose of the vaccine with fewer than 40 cases of blood clots reported.

He alluded to a geopolitical agenda designed to create disaffection against the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“There are the same people who initially said they don’t want AstraZeneca. Then after data came out in the UK that it is really protective, reducing death and hospitalization in people over 70, all of a sudden there was a mad rush fighting Australia overdoses.

"Now all of a sudden they are saying that we are suspending [it]. In my opinion, its geopolitics. Their own scientist is pointing out that there is no evidence suggesting that there is any justification.”

In his view, the move by the aforementioned countries, is "a tempest in a teacup, as there is no evidence that this vaccine does anything besides reducing mortalities from Covid-19 and reduce hospitalization. That data is incontrovertible.”