Denmark's health authority on Wednesday formally announced that it will no longer use the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, making it the first European country to abandon the jab over suspected rare but serious side effects. 

"The Danish Health Authority has decided to continue the vaccination against COVID-19 without the vaccine from AstraZeneca," the ministry said, confirming an earlier media report, despite recommendations from the World Health Organization and European medicines watchdog to continue using the vaccine.

Denmark was among the first countries in Europe to temporarily suspend the use of the vaccine in March after the cases of blood clots were reported.