Controversy in Spain because the government demands that the second dose of AstraZeneca not be applied to children under 60

The Spanish government calls to order the autonomous communities who apply the second dose of AstraZeneca for those under 60 years old despite the recommendation apply a second dose of Pfizer instead of the Anglo-Swedish vaccine due to the risk of thrombosis.

According to the newspaper The country, The Ministry of Health sees with “astonishment” how the regions do not respect the decision of the Public Health Commission, composed of the Ministry of Health and the Autonomous Communities, which issued inoculate the vaccine with Pfizer with a first dose of AstraZeneca, as confirmed by a recent study by the Carlos III Health Institute.

At the beginning of April, Health has made the decision to vaccinate with AstraZeneca only people over 60 years of age due to the occurrence of thrombotic events “very rare»Especially among the youngest, like other European countries such as France O Germany.

This restriction caused many under the age of 60 who had already received a dose of AstraZeneca could not receive the second injection. Those affected are mainly essential personnel such as teachers O cops.

The government took the decision to recommend Pfizer after receiving the results of the Combivacs study carried out by the Carlos III Institute. This trial showed that one dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine produced strong immune responses and mild to moderate side effects in people under the age of 60 who received a single dose of AstraZeneca. According to the study, in addition, the application of a second dose of Pfizer does not have major side effects, and in no case did this lead to hospitalizations.

However, due to pressure from the Autonomous Communities, the The Interterritorial Health Council has decided to allow anyone wishing to complete the schedule with AstraZeneca by signing an informed consent.

Until almost May 27 5 million people have been vaccinated with AstraZeneca in Spain. As announced on Tuesday by the Ministry of Health, so far, four people have died from the effects of the Oxford vaccine. A fifth case is under study. Fifteen others also suffered from thrombi of varying severity.

Yet, according to the Spanish media, the vast majority of people vaccinated with AstraZeneca do not follow the recommendations of the health authorities and the majority choose to repeat the doses, as established by the European Medicines Agency (EMA, for its acronym in English). According to The countryThe ministry said it was surprised by this attitude and attributed it to “poor communication”.

Given the possible shortage of the Anglo-Swedish vaccine, the Minister of Health, Carolina darias, announced on Wednesday the arrival next week of 1.3 million doses of AstraZeneca and trusted that this departure with those who must arrive and those which have been kept “may be sufficient” to supplement the regimen of all vaccinated with this serum.

“We have to see how many people are going to choose these doses from the under 60s, but this problem must not happen.” that there are none for people older than this age, he explained.

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