The Australian rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine will continue despite 17 countries—including Indonesia, France, Ireland, Germany, Italy, and Sweden—suspending their vaccine programs after reports of blood clots in people having received the shot. Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly in a statement on March 16 said that the government remains confident that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is fit for use and that there is currently no indication there is a link between the vaccine and the blood clot incidents. “We are aware of some further European countries pausing the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine due to reports of blood clots in people who have been vaccinated,” Kelly said. “While the European Medicines Agency is investigating these events, it has reinforced its view that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is successful in protecting against COVID-19, and should continue to be used in the rollout.” The suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine occurred after reports …