March 30, 2021

Canada halting AstraZeneca vaccine shots for people 55 and younger

Source: CNN

Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommended Monday that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine should not be used in adults under age 55 while rare cases of serious blood clots following vaccination are being investigated, according to a release from the committee.

The rare cases of serious blood clots, known as vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia (VIPIT), have recently been reported in Europe following post-licensure use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, primarily in women under the age of 55.

According to the vaccine committee, the rate of this adverse event is still to be confirmed and information is being gathered to be more accurate.

"Following population-based analyses of VIPIT assessing risk of COVID-19 disease by age, and considering that alternate products are available (i.e., mRNA vaccines), from what is known at this time, there is substantial uncertainty about the benefit of providing AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to adults under 55 years of age given that the potential risks associated with VIPIT, particularly at the lower estimated rates," committee officials said.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/29/americas/canada-astrazeneca-vaccine-intl/index.html

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They got to do what they got to do, but this doesn't help persuade people to get the vaccine. I'm glad the US has three other vaccines currently being produced in great quantities, so we can stay out of the AZ controversies.