Italy on Monday suspended the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine nationwide as a "precautionary" measure, joining a list of countries in Europe that have made similar decisions.

The country's medicines authority AIFA said the decision was a "precautionary and temporary measure" pending rulings by the European Medicines Agency.

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

On Sunday, Italy's northern region of Piedmont said it would stop using a batch of AstraZeneca shots after a teacher died following his vaccination on Saturday.

(With input from agencies)