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Mar 15, 2021 5:33 PM -

Trudeau offers reassurance on AstraZeneca safety as European countries suspend use

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Pharmacist Barbara Violo holds a vial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Junction Chemist, an independent pharmacy, in Toronto, Friday, March 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Health Canada is closely monitoring European reaction to a batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines linked to possible side-effects.

France is suspending the use of the drug until at least tomorrow afternoon, when the European Medicines Agency will issue its recommendation on it.

Germany is also joining a growing list of European countries doing the same, following reports that some people developed blood clots after receiving the shot.

Trudeau says none of the doses Canada received from AstraZeneca were from the same batch, and he's urging everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Trudeau says he is confident in Health Canada's guarantee that vaccines it has approved in Canada are safe.

The PM says he will gladly take any vaccine that is offered to him, when the time comes.

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