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MANAGUA, March 16 (Reuters) - Nicaragua received a first
batch of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses, Vice
President Rosario Murillo said on Tuesday, touting the
inoculations donated through the World Health Organization's
global vaccine-sharing COVAX program.
Murillo said Covax had donated 137,000 doses and that the
Nicaragua would receive more shots through the Covax mechanism
at the end of March, but did not specify how many.
In late February, Nicaragua received its first batch of
vaccine doses from an initial donation of Russia's Sputnik V
product and has begun inoculating people with pre-existing
conditions such as heart disease, kidney failure and cancer.
India has also already donated 200,000 doses of the
AstraZeneca vaccine to Nicaragua, and has agreed to deliver an
additional 300,000 doses.
Global health experts are seeking to clear up questions
about the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine as around a dozen
European countries have suspended its use over a possible
heightened risk of blood clots.
Europe's medicines regulator is investigating and is
expected to release its findings on Thursday.
British health minister Matt Hancock said on Tuesday the
AstraZeneca vaccine remained safe.
(Reporting by Ismael Lopez; Writing by Anthony Esposito;
Editing by David Alire Garcia and Mark Heinrich)
