Vaccinations using the AstraZeneca vaccine are to go ahead as planned, the government has said.

Earlier today, news broke that Malta was one of 17 EU countries to receive a batch of AstraZeneca vaccines which six countries have suspended from use after a person died of multiple thrombosis some days after receiving a dose of the vaccine.

The Maltese health authorities said they had asked for direction from the Maltese Medicines Authority regarding the vaccine.

The Medicines Authority recommended that the AstraZeneca vaccination programme continue as planned. "This in light that the European Medicines Authority said that there is no indication that the vaccine had caused the health complications reported in Austria, even as the reported health complications are not listed as side effects of the vaccine."

The statement read that the particular consignment referred to was used in the country a few weeks ago.

"While there are no more vaccines from this batch to use in the country, the Health Authorities did not receive any reports of any reactions from the people who were administered vaccines from the batch in question."

"While the health authorities are following the situation closely, they feel there is no need for alarm for the patients who received the vaccine from thsi consignment."