ARCHIVED - Majority preference in Spain for second AstraZeneca dose rather than switching to Pfizer

In Murcia and Andalucía an estimated 90 per cent reject national government advice

Much to the apparent annoyance of Carolina Darias, the Minister for Health in the Spanish government, it is emerging that the vast majority of the under-60s being offered either the Pfizer or the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine as a second dose after receiving AstraZeneca for the first are choosing to continue with the Oxford product rather than switching to the one recommended by the government.

This situation came about on 7^th April, when, after beginning the vaccination of those in “essential” professions (such as police officers, firefighters and schoolteachers) with Astra Zeneca the government ruled that the product should not be used in the under-60s. After a long hiatus the decision was reached to recommend Pfizer as a second dose but to allow individuals to “opt out” and continue with AstraZeneca.

However, this plan has backfired to a large extent, with various regional governments and health services making it clear that in their view it is preferable to continue with the same immunization process rather than to switch. Clearly the majority of those affected are in agreement: in Andalucía and Murcia it is estimated that 90 per cent of those offered the choice have so far elected to continue with AstraZeneca, while in Galicia, where the second dose campaign began on Thursday, it is reported that 87 per cent are likely to follow suit.

Across the country the preference is less marked but is still reported to be 70-30 in favour of continuing with AstraZeneca.

In both Andalucía and Murcia people are being required to sign “informed consent” forms whether they choose Pfizer or AstraZeneca, despite the national government making this a requirement only in the case of continuing with AstraZeneca, and Sra Darias interprets this as constituting a deliberate misinterpretation of the guidelines laid down.

Meanwhile, perhaps in an effort to persuade people to switch to Pfizer despite this not being recommended in the official prospectuses of either vaccine manufacturer, the Ministry has confirmed that so far four people in Spain have died after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. However, it has been pointed out that this is among a population of some 4.98 million people to have been given the vaccine: the risk of associated clotting is calculated to be 0.0004 per cent, while the fatalities equate to 0.00008 per cent of those vaccinated.