France, March 16 -- France joined several European countries on Monday in suspending the use of the AstraZeneca anti-coronavirus vaccine. French president Emmanuel Macron said the ban would remain in place until Tuesday's meeting of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) which will decide on the jab's safety.

"The decision has been made ... to suspend the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine as a precaution," said Macron, speaking from a summit in the south of France."We hope that we can resume it quickly if the judgment of the EMA allows it.

"We have a simple guide, to be informed by science and the competent heath authorities and to do it as part of a European strategy," Macron said, adding that the suspension would be until at least Tuesday a...