After the COVID-19 left scientists scrambling to find a cure for the novel Coronavirus, several new vaccines have been developed to fight the pandemic.

Among the new vaccines is one from AstraZeneca that was developed by researchers at the University of Oxford and produced by the British-Swedish firm.

European countries heavily depend on the vaccine, as it is more efficient and easier to mass produce for millions of citizens in those countries.

Although the vaccine was highly anticipated due to its ability to be stored in a regular refrigerator and be produced at a low cost, European health officials have raised concerns after 86 people vaccinated have developed blood clotting disorders, 18 of them fatal.

In Germany, the regulatory agency, Paul Ehrlich Institute, recommended the pausing of the vaccine “after seven reports of cerebral venous thrombosis, a rare type of stroke leading to a massive, life threatening bleeding to the brain, occurred in a two-week window after vaccination” according to ScienceMag.org.

The European Medicines Agency’s safety committee reached the conclusion that the side effect of blood clotting due to the AstraZeneca vaccine will be listed as a rare, but still be distributed.

Research labs continue to investigate the cases of blood clots in recently vaccinated patients.

In the US, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine distribution was placed on hold and quickly resumed after six cases of severe blood clotting in young women occurred.

According to The New York Times, “The suspension came after officials learned that six women had developed a severe disorder that let to blood clots in their brains within about two weeks of receiving the vaccine. One died.”

The pause and discovery of the cases of blood clots gave a massive blow to the US’s efforts for vaccine distribution, as the one-shot vaccine created distrust among citizens.

Student Body President Kaitlyn Horn said, “I would feel more comfortable taking one of the other vaccines [Pfizer/Moderna], I know that with every vaccine there is a possibility of side effects, however, because blood clotting is such a big issue with this vaccine, it makes me wearier.”

Although these complications halted the Johnson & Johnson vaccine distribution, the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA resumed vaccinations, instead issuing a warning of the possible side effects.

As the world’s nations race to vaccine all people, marginal cases of blood clotting created some mistrust among people; however, these are statistically small percentages considering the millions of people who have been vaccinated using these two vaccines.