Uzbeks express concern towards AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine as country receives 660,000 shots

The arrival of 660,000 AstraZeneca coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine shipments in Uzbekistan on March 17 sparked anxiety among the population.

People said they were afraid that there would be side effects from taking the vaccine, such as blood clots. Across a number of European states concerns have arisen that the vaccine can cause blood clots but no evidence that that is the case has been established. While the matter is probed, some countries have suspended the use of it.

Meanwhile, according to Bahodir Yusupaliyev, head of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Service of Uzbekistan, the government has no plans to limit itself to only importing the AstraZeneca vaccine when it comes to coronavirus vaccines on the market.

"Uzbekistan will not be limited only to the AstraZeneca vaccine, the list will definitely be replenished. Other vaccines will also be studied and imported. Getting and delivering any vaccine is a complex issue. Many fear the AstraZeneca vaccine. However, the vaccination is not mandatory," Yuupaliev said.

"I want to draw your attention to one more fact: no state in the world has yet abandoned the AstraZeneca vaccine, they have only suspended its use for a while,” he added.

Amid soaring cases of new coronavirus infections in Uzbekistan, the government said it was considering the cancellation of mass events from April 1 this year.