EMA official recommends avoiding AstraZeneca vaccine
pharmafile | June 14, 2021 | News story | Sales and Marketing |
A senior executive at the EMA recommended abandoning the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the EU where alternatives are available.
This is due to extremely rare cases of the jab causing blood clots, particularly in younger people.
Marco Cavaleri, the EMA’s head of vaccine strategy was asked if it would not be better to ban AstraZeneca including for the over 60s, he said: “Yes, and it is an option that many countries, such as France and Germany, are considering in the light of the increased availability of mRNA vaccines.
“However, incidents were very rare and after the first dose. It is true that there is less data on the second dose, but in the United Kingdom it [the vaccination programme] is going well.
“Among young people the risks of illness decrease, and the message for them could be to use preferentially the mRNA vaccines, but the choice is left to individual states.”
Cavaleri then said in a statement to Reuters: “Unfortunately my words have not been interpreted correctly in a recent interview with La Stampa.”
He said the vaccine “maintains a favourable benefit risk profile in all ages but particularly in the elderly above 60.”
In a brief statement on Twitter, the EMA said: “Misinformation is making the rounds today.
“This is the situation: Benefit/risk balance of AstraZeneca #COVID19 vaccine is positive and it remains authorised for all populations.”
The EMA’s current position is that the AstraZeneca shot is safe and can be used for all age groups over 18.
However, several EU member states have stopped administering it to people below a certain age, usually ranging from 50 to 65, restricting its use to older people, due to very rare cases of blood clotting.
Lilly Subbotin
