The graphic examined the rate of intensive care admissions prevented by having the AstraZeneca jab versus the risk of serious side-effects.Credit:MHRA
For those aged 20 to 29,the rate of ICU admissions prevented through inoculation was 0.8 for every 100,000 people. But the risk from serious side effects from the vaccine was 1.1 in 100,000.
The benefits were much higher for older groups:14.1 in 100,000 ICU admissions prevented,versus 0.2 who were at risk of serious harm from the vaccine.
“With the proven effectiveness against the disease that is still a huge risk to our population,the balance of benefits and known risks of the vaccine is still very favourable for the vast majority of people,” Raine said.
Young people who have already had one dose of the AstraZeneca jab have been told to get their second despite Wednesday’s decision.
Other under 30s will be offered jabs by Pfizer,Moderna or potentially Johnson and Johnson.
A medical worker prepares to administer a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.Credit:AP
Several countries have already imposed limits on who can receive the vaccine,and any restrictions are closely watched since the product,which is cheaper and easier to store than many others,is critical to global immunisation campaigns and is a pillar of the United Nations-backed program known as COVAX that aims to supply some of the world’s poorest countries.
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The EMA’s investigation focused on unusual types of blood clots occurring along with low blood platelets. One rare clot type appears in multiple blood vessels and the other in veins that drain blood from the brain.
Sabine Straus,the chair of the EMA’s safety committee,said the best data was coming from Germany where there was one report of the rare clots for every 100,000 doses given,although she noted far fewer reports in the UK. Still,that’s less than the clot risk that healthy women face from birth control pills,noted another expert,Peter Arlett.
The agency said most of the cases reported have occurred in women under 60 within two weeks of vaccination but based on the currently available evidence it was not able to identify specific risk factors.
With AP