The move comes after the National Immunization Advisory Committee (NIAC) has today recommended the temporary deferral of the administration of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.

“The alert followed four new reports of serious, rare thromboembolic (clotting) events, including some complicated by thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) in adults under 65 years of age after vaccination with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca,” the committee said in a statement.

The decision to temporarily suspend use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine was based on new information from Norway that emerged late last night. This is a precautionary step. The National Immunisation Advisory Comm meets again this morning and we’ll provide an update after that

— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) March 14, 2021

Ireland’s Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said it was a precautionary step.

“The decision to temporarily suspend use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine was based on new information from Norway that emerged late last night. This is a precautionary step. The National Immunization Advisory Comm meets again this morning and we’ll provide an update after that,” Donnelly tweeted.

Until now, more than 110,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered in the Republic of Ireland. (ILKHA)