Denmark offers volunteers AstraZeneca, Johnson COVID jabs

Denmark, the first European country to discontinue the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines, on Thursday made both shots available to volunteers, health authorities announced.

"With the optional system put in place, the people now have the possibility to get vaccinated with the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines which are not part of Denmark's overall vaccination campaign," Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said in a statement.

The Nordic country—where the epidemic is considered under control and where the majority of people at risk and health professionals have been vaccinated—had decided to exclude both vaccines because of a potential link to a rare but serious form of blood clot.

Both vaccines will now be made available to adults after consultations with a doctor.

Currently, two vaccines—produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna—are part of Denmark's vaccination program.

According to the latest figures, nearly 19 percent of Denmark's population of 5.8 million are fully vaccinated while nearly 30 percent have received the first dose of the vaccine.

© 2021 AFP