British Prime Minister Boris Johnson poses for a photo with a vial of the candidate vaccine AstraZeneca / Oxford University Covid-19.
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The British government and health experts in the country rushed to defend the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University following concerns about a possible blood clot connection.
On Wednesday, UK health and vaccine regulators issued a change of guidelines on who should receive the vaccine. They now recommend that anyone under the age of 30 receive an alternative vaccine amid concerns that it could, in rare cases, lead to the formation of a severe blood clot.
Following a safety analysis of the AstraZeneca vaccine, sparked by concerns about reports of rare blood clotting disorders in a small number of vaccinated people, both UK and European regulators (MHRA and EMA, respectively) have pointed out that the benefits of the jab still outweighed the risks.
However, amid concerns that the vaccine’s reputation could be further damaged, experts rushed to defend it – and a Twitter user commented that officials appeared to have gone into “damage limitation” mode.
On Thursday, the British health secretary stressed that the risk of a blood clot after being vaccinated with AstraZeneca Covid is about the same as on a long-distance flight. He said safety measures around the vaccine were robust and allowed regulators to “identify this extremely rare event.”
With the chance of developing a blood clot, Matt Hancock told BBC Breakfast: “The safety system we have around this vaccine is so sensitive that it can take on events that are four to a million – I’m told it’s about the equivalent risk of taking a long-haul flight.”
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who himself received a first vaccine, said that “the best thing people should do is look at what the MHRA, our independent regulator, is saying – that’s why we have them, that’s why I’m independent.
“Their advice for people is to keep going there, to get your jab, to get your second jab,” he added on Thursday.
In the context of growing concern that Wednesday’s announcement could lead to the hesitation of the vaccine in the UK, where the immunization program has gone well so far, with over 31.7 million adults so far receiving a first dose of vaccine. The UK has worked through priority groups for a vaccine, and under the age of 50 (with no underlying health conditions) is still in line for a vaccine.
England’s deputy medical director, Jonathan Van-Tam, also sought to allay concerns on Wednesday, saying reports of blood clots were “rarely disappearing”. He also noted that “changes in preference for vaccines are normal as usual and this is a correction of the course”.
“If you’re navigating a massive line across the Atlantic, then it’s not really reasonable not to have to make at least one course correction during the trip,” he said in a press briefing, adding that the vaccines were kept under “very careful review”.
Vaccination hesitation “clearly a concern”
Andrew Freedman, a reader of infectious diseases at Cardiff University School of Medicine, was among the experts, saying the UK’s move to restrict the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine was sensitive.
“It sounds like a sensitive decision based on the evidence we have so far about a likely causal link between the AZ vaccine and these very rare thrombotic side effects that have been observed,” he told CNBC on Thursday. However, he noted that hesitation about the vaccine is now “clearly a concern”.
“It will be important to further emphasize the message that vaccination saves lives and has already saved thousands of lives in the UK,” he added.
Meanwhile, Andrew Pollard, a professor of pediatric infection and immunity at Oxford University who developed the shot with AstraZeneca, said in a statement on Wednesday that “safety has been our priority throughout the development of the vaccine … and we are confident see that safety monitoring continues under the close scrutiny of regulators and public health authorities as the vaccine is launched worldwide. “
Uncertainties
Continental European countries may find it more difficult to convince their citizens that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe, given the many doubts and disputes about shooting and supplies to date.
After a second review of the photo, the European Medicines Agency also decided on Wednesday that the vaccine was safe, but said it had found a “possible link” between jab and very rare cases of blood clots. However, the EMA did not impose age restrictions on recipients.
The agency’s executive director, Emer Cooke, sought to reassure the public, noting that researchers are still trying to find out what caused a small but rare number of clots, including cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST).
The problem, “clearly demonstrates one of the challenges posed by large-scale vaccination campaigns when millions of people receive these vaccines, very rare events that have not been identified during clinical trials may occur,” she said.
EU leaders met on Wednesday night, but failed to agree on a coordinated strategy for the AstraZeneca vaccine.
To date, four European countries have stopped using the AstraZeneca vaccine, including Denmark and the Netherlands, while a number of others, including Germany, France and Spain, have imposed age restrictions on shooting.
Most cases of blood clots identified by regulators have occurred in women under the age of 60 within two weeks of the shooting. However, officials are still looking at specific risk factors that could have contributed to the phenomenon.
Unusual blood clotting with low platelets will be added as a “very rare” side effect to information about the vaccine product, the EMA added.