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Canada Pauses AstraZeneca Vaccine For 55 And Younger

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Updated Mar 29, 2021, 05:48pm EDT

Topline

Canadian provinces suspended the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for those under 55 on Monday after recommendations from its immunization advisory panel, which cited renewed concerns over blood clots reported in a small number of people who received the shot. 

Key Facts

At a press conference, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization and other top Canadian health officials said they would continue to recommend the AstraZeneca vaccine to older people with a higher probability of severe disease from Covid-19.

Several provinces, including Alberta, Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia, temporarily suspended the AstraZeneca vaccine for those under 55 as a precautionary measure following the recommendation.

Dr. Joss Reimer, an official for the Vaccine Implementation Task Force in Manitoba, said in an announcement that despite data showing no AstraZeneca-related risks of blood clots overall in Europe, officials have seen “rare” but serious side effects among young women.

Key Background

The recommendation came just a week after Canadian regulators backed the AstraZeneca vaccine in the face of skepticism, saying the “efficacy and the safety of the vaccine have been shown.” A wave of European nations halted emergency use of the AstraZeneca vaccine earlier this month after 30 cases of blood clots were reported among the more than 20 million who had received the shot in the bloc and the UK. Most nations resumed distribution of the AstraZeneca vaccine in recent weeks after the World Health Organization and the European Medicines Agency said it was safe and effective. But fresh concerns were raised about the AstraZeneca vaccine last week after the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said the company may have used "outdated information,” prompting the company to provide fuller data that showed its vaccine was 76% effective against Covid-19.


Crucial Quote

Dr. Supriya Sharma, the chief medical adviser at the Canadian health department, said the shift in vaccine guidance was an example of safety regulations in action. “Again, it’s a precautionary approach and we’ll move forward as we get more information,” she told reporters. “Really, this is the system working to look at these very rare events to assess them.”

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