Finland on Friday suspended the use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine while it investigates two possible cases of blood clots, according to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.

The institute said the action was taken as an investigation into two potential cases of blood clots takes place.

Earlier this week, the institute said it had received reports of cases of blood clots among people who had taken the AstraZeneca vaccine in the country.

The institute said it estimated that the investigation would take at least one week.

The announcement came a day after Europe's top drug regulator concluded AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine was "safe and effective", however, adding that it could not rule out the jab being associated with very rare cases of blood clots.

Several European countries had fully or partially suspended the use of the vaccine following reports of suspected deaths from blood clots after vaccination.

Some countries, such as France, however, said they will resume using the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine following the pronouncement by the European Medicines Agency.

(With input from agencies)