Germany announced on Monday it would stop administering AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, making it the latest European country to do so.

Reuters reports a spokesperson for the health ministry to say that the new guidelines implemented a recommendation from the Paul Ehrlich Institute, Germany's authority in charge of vaccines.

A number of countries in Europe have stopped administering the AstraZeneca shots either entirely or from specific batches, citing potential adverse effects including possible blood clots.

Some of those countries include Italy, Romania, Netherlands, Ireland, Bulgaria, Denmark and Norway.

(With input from agencies)