WHO recommended the application of the Oxford vaccine in May …

Experts of World Health Organization (WHO) said that the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford against covid-19 can be used in people over 65 and in places where variants of the virus are circulating. Recently, several countries in Europe have decided not to apply the vaccine to the elderly.

“Taking into account all the available evidence, WHO recommends vaccine use in people 65 years of age and olderSaid the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE).

SAGE President Alejandro Cravioto of Mexico admitted that in clinical trials of this vaccine there was a low participation of people over 65, which may have contributed to doubt its effectiveness. But SAGE analyzes conclude that “the results in these people are not different from those in the younger groups”.

According to specialists, the vaccine can also be used in places where “variants are present” of coronavirus, despite recent studies suggesting that this immunizer is less effective against the strain initially detected in South Africa.

“It is better not to compare vaccines or wait for the arrival of the best”

This problem has raised particular concerns in a country like South Africa, which has purchased a million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine but found that its effectiveness could drop, according to some studies, from 62 to 22%, raising concerns. questions about its use in immunization programs.

Another case is that of Belgium, which announced that it would reserve AstraZeneca vaccines for people between the ages of 18 and 55 due to a lack of data on their effectiveness in the elderly, and announced on Tuesday that it would exclude the troubled adults of the British. immune system in this age group.

“People who suffer from immune problems or who are being treated with immunosuppressants will be an exception. These people will be vaccinated with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine,” said Sabine Stordeur, one of the heads of the Belgian vaccination program, during a press conference. .

Faced with this scenario, the WHO chief scientist, Soumya Swaminathan, was frank and stressed that “it is better not to compare vaccines or to wait for the arrival of better vaccines: it is better that the vaccines are available”, urging caution when using the results of studies for make public health decisions.

For her part, the WHO director of immunization, Kate o’brianHe added that studies in South Africa that have warned of the AstraZeneca vaccine’s lack of efficacy have limited and “inconclusive” results, focusing only on mild and moderate cases.

For the international organization, the AstraZeneca vaccine is of particular importance because it will surely be the first to be distributed, already at the end of this month, in low-income countries, through its COVAX program, which seeks to vaccinate countries unable to acquire large vaccine orders.

In addition, it is one of the cheapest and can be stored in a normal refrigerator, without the need for lower temperature systems such as those required by vaccines such as Pfizer or Moderna, which would facilitate its transport to countries. in development.

“It will be very useful for many countries, it is easier to use”, Swaminathan summed up after citing these benefits of the vaccine, of which the WHO plans to distribute some 336 million doses in the first half of 2021.

In addition, Cravioto added, citing recommendations, that the two doses of AstraZeneca vaccine should preferably be given eight to twelve weeks apart.

As in the case of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, for which SAGE has already issued recommendations in previous weeks, WHO advisers do not recommend that international travelers be vaccinated, given the relative shortage of doses at the moment.

In the case of pregnant and breastfeeding women, SAGE does not have sufficient data to recommend or not its administration, although it does advise it in the case of those who belong to groups at risk of covid-19.

At present, the Oxford and AstraZeneca vaccine has an average efficacy of 70%, lower than that of Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna, which generate over 90% immunity.