Factbox: Details of use of AstraZeneca, J&J COVID vaccines

April 20 (Reuters) - Following is an outline of countries that have restricted or suspended use of COVID-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca (AZN.L) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N), after Europe confirmed possible links to rare blood clots.

J&J and AstraZeneca have stated that no clear causal relationship has been established between the clots and their vaccines. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has so far maintained that the benefits of both the shots outweigh any risks.

The EMA is also reviewing reports of a rare nerve-degenerating disorder in people who received the AstraZeneca shot.

REGIONS USING THE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE WITH RESTRICTIONS

AUSTRALIA

Recommended on April 8 that people under 50 should get Pfizer's (PFE.N) COVID-19 vaccine in preference to AstraZeneca's. read more

BRAZIL

Brazil suspended use in pregnant women nationally on May 11 after an expectant mother in Rio de Janeiro died. read more

BRITAIN

Officials said on May 7 people under 40 should be offered an alternative to the vaccine where possible, lifting the age limit by 10 years from Britain's previous recommendation. read more

BULGARIA

Suspended use of vaccine on April 19 for women below 60 years who are at increased risk of thrombosis.

CANADA

Said in early April it would pause offering the vaccine to people under 55. Several provinces are now offering the AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged 40 and over. read more

ESTONIA

Suspended use for people under 60 on April 7. read more

FRANCE

Is using vaccine only for people aged 55 and over. On April 9, recommended that people under 55 who have had a first dose of the AstraZeneca shot should receive a messenger RNA vaccine for their second dose. read more

FINLAND

Is using only for people aged 65 and over. read more

GEORGIA

Is using only in medical centres Russian news agency TASS reported on March 19. read more

GERMANY

Germany said on May 7 it would give the shot to all adults who want it. It previously restricted use to those aged over 60 and recommended a different second dose for those under 60. read more

INDONESIA

Is using the vaccine but has warned against giving it to people with a low blood platelet count. read more

IRELAND

The government agreed to allow use of AstraZeneca and J&J vaccines for people over 50 years old, Prime Minister Micheal Martin said on April 27. Had previously restricted use of AstraZeneca's vaccine to those over 60. read more

ITALY

Recommends use only for people over 60. read more

MALAYSIA

Began a parallel rollout last week for people to choose to receive the jab on a first-come, first-serve basis. read more

MEXICO

Drug regulator said on April 7 it did not "at this time" plan to limit the vaccine's use but was investigating the information raised by Britain. read more

NETHERLANDS

Said on April 8 it would limit use of the vaccine to people over 60.

NORTH MACEDONIA

Health minister said on March 31 the vaccine would be limited to people aged over 60 as a precautionary measure.

ONTARIO

The Canadian province said on May 11 it will stop offering first doses because of evidence that the risk of rare blood clots is somewhat higher than previously estimated. read more

PHILIPPINES

Said on April 19 it would resume administering the vaccine to under-60s after having temporarily suspended use on April 8. read more

SLOVAKIA

Health Ministry said on Tuesday it was suspending use for people getting their first doses, after experts reviewed the death of a recipient.

SOUTH KOREA

Resumed use of the shot for people aged 30 or older on April 12 after suspending use in under-60s on April 7. read more

SPAIN

Government said on April 30 it was extending the gap between the first and second doses of the vaccine to 16 weeks for people aged under 60. From April 8, Spain was giving the vaccine only to those over 60. read more

SWEDEN

Using for people aged 65 and older, while Swedes under 65 will be given an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine for their second dose. read more

REGIONS WHERE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE USE IS SUSPENDED

CAMEROON

Said on March 18 it was suspending administration of shots the country was due to receive. read more

DENMARK

Said on April 14 it would stop using the AstraZeneca vaccine, the first country to do so. On April 19, Ritzau news agency reported that authorities may permit people to choose to have the vaccine. read more

NORWAY

A government-appointed commission said on Monday Norway should exclude vaccines made by AstraZeneca and J&J from its inoculation programme. Had suspended administration of AstraZeneca's shot on March 11. read more

REGIONS USING J&J VACCINE WITH OR WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS

EUROPEAN UNION

J&J said on April 20 it will resume rolling out its COVID-19 vaccine in Europe with a warning on its label, after requesting countries, including Belgium, to pause the rollout.

FRANCE

Government said on April 21 that it plans to start using the vaccine the following week.

GERMANY

Is to make the J&J vaccine available to all adults, Health Minister Jens Spahn said on May 10. read more

GREECE

Plans to start rollout on May 5 after suspending vaccinations on April 19. read more

ITALY

Health ministry on April 20 recommended the vaccine be used for people over the age of 60. read more

NETHERLANDS

Resumed use of the vaccine from April 21. read more

POLAND

Started administering the J&J shot on April 15

SPAIN

Approved on Tuesday the use of the vaccine for people under the age of 60, Spanish El Pais newspaper reported. Spanish regions began using the vaccine to inoculate 70-79 year olds on April 22. [nL8N2MY77W] read more

SWEDEN

Extended pause on J&J vaccine on April 23, adding that the shots could be given to people aged 65 and above. read more

UNITED STATES

Resumed use on April 23, ending a 10-day pause to investigate possible link to extremely rare but potentially deadly blood clots. read more

REGIONS WHERE SUSPENSIONS CONTINUE ON J&J VACCINE

DENMARK

Denmark on May 3 became the first country to exclude the shots from its vaccination programme. read more

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