Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and other Brazilian states have suspended immunisation of pregnant women with the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine on the advice of the national health regulator after a reported death, according to AFP.

The suspension was to remain in place until the health ministry establishes the cause of death of a woman in Rio de Janeiro who received the vaccine, Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga told a news conference.

Queiroga said the call was made by a team of experts and was based “exclusively on technical criteria”.

“It is not clear that the vaccine caused this blood clot. We are analyzing the details of the whole case to reach a conclusion and clarify what happened,” said Jorge Kalil, a consultant for the National Vaccination Programme, who took part in the press briefing.