Which European countries have restricted the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine following a link with thrombosis?

Italy, Spain, Belgium, England and the Netherlands have announced the restriction of the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the AstraZeneca laboratory after its association with limited cases of thrombosis and issued recommendations to vaccinate only the elderly. adults.

The decisions were made after the The European Medicines Agency (EMA) confirmed on Wednesday a possible relationship between the application of the inoculant and the unusual cases of blood clotting reported in some people, although the regulator still maintains a positive opinion on its advantages.

According to the conclusions of the EMA Safety Committee (PRAC), “unusual” low platelet clots “should be included as very rare side effects” of the AstraZeneca vaccine, based on “all currently available evidence” , including advice from an ad hoc group of experts.

Meanwhile, the European Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, called for a “coordinated position” between European Union (EU) countries on AstraZeneca which does not “feed” doubts about the vaccine, after a meeting of branch ministers.

“It is essential that we follow a coordinated position in Europe. A position which does not confuse citizens and which does not raise doubts about the vaccine, because it is based on science, ”he declared during an extraordinary meeting of 27 health ministers convened by the presidency. Portuguese on AstraZeneca.

This position it will be “essential” to speak “with one voice across the EU”, said the commissioner, despite the fact that decisions on vaccination plans are “always” for each country.

However, in the meantime, different countries have announced their own restrictions on the application of the vaccine. Italy on Wednesday announced it would prioritize its administration to the over-60s for safety, according to scientists advising the government announced today after consulting with Health Minister Roberto Speranza.

“The position decided by the Minister, after having held a debate with us and other experts, is to recommend a preferential use (of the AstraZeneca compound) in subjects over 60 years of age“, Advanced Franco Locatelli, president of the Italian Superior Council of Health, during a press conference.

Locatelli reported that most cases of thrombi have been detected in women under the age of 60 during the first 14 days after the first dose of Astrazeneca.

For this reason, people in Italy who have received the first dose of this vaccine will be able to receive the second to complete their vaccination: “There is no evidence” to decide otherwise, he stressed.

Spain will also reserve AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine only for people over 60.

The Spanish Ministry of Health made this proposal today to the autonomous communities at the end of the meeting of European health ministers who analyzed the conclusions of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on this vaccine.

In Spain, the AstraZeneca vaccine has so far been given to children under 65 and essential personnel such as firefighters, police or teachers, although this week the health spokesperson for the pandemic, l epidemiologist Fernando Simón left the door open to abolish the 65-year limit. “We will continue with the vaccination of people over the age of 60”, announced the Spanish Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, during a press conference.

The Netherlands, for their part, said that Vaccination with AstraZeneca is “a dilemma for all Member States” of the European Union (EU), since it places them between “the health risks due to the very rare side effects” of blood clotting, and the effects of “postponing vaccination” with this preparation.

“The will to vaccinate is essential. Security must be indisputable “, underlined the Dutch Minister of Health, Hugo de Jonge, who shared an image of the telematic meeting with his European colleagues, convened by the Portuguese Presidency of the EU to discuss the conclusions reached today by the Agency European Medicines Agency (EMA) on the safety of AstraZeneca.

The Netherlands has also crippled vaccination with AstraZeneca in children under 60, waiting for its Health Council to issue a recommendation after studying the EMA’s arguments.

In Belgium’s case, it will only administer the AstraZeneca vaccine to people over 55 for the next four weeks, according to federal and regional health ministers decided on Wednesday.

“On the basis of recent scientific advice, the Belgian health ministers have decided to replace AstraZeneca vaccines with others for people aged 18 to 55; for people aged 56 and over, all vaccines will continue to be administered, ”the statement released Wednesday said.

The UK, for its part, recommended offering alternative vaccines to AstraZeneca. This population group will have the option of choosing to be vaccinated with Pfizer and Moderna preparations, also approved in this country, although regulators continue to recommend the AstraZeneca vaccine in the elderly, believing that the benefits outweigh the benefits. risks.

With information from AFP, EFE, EuropaPress

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