ARCHIVED - AstraZeneca vaccine now limited to over-60s in Spain; the rules change yet again
Those who have already received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine face uncertainty over the second
Just as the rate of coronavirus vaccination in Spain appeared at last to be gathering momentum, raising hopes that by the summer approximately 50 per cent of the population could have received at least the first of their two doses, the immunization campaign has once again been thrown into confusion by the latest problems related to the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Following the European Medicines Agency’s statement on Wednesday, which recognized the presence of an as yet undefined “link” between the AstraZeneca vaccine and “very rare” blood clots, the Spanish government almost immediately performed an abrupt about-turn regarding the use of the product. As the week began the policy was to administer doses only to those aged under 65, due to previous concerns about the possible risks of using it among the elderly, but on Wednesday it was announced that from now on AstraZeneca is deemed appropriate only for those aged between 60 and 65.
This limits its use to the narrow tranche of people aged between 60 and 65, and leaves hundreds of thousands of people across the country in a state of great uncertainty. Many younger adults who work in “front-line” professions, including military personnel, police and Guardia Civil officers, firefighters and schoolteachers, have already received their first dose of the AstraZeneca product and it is not yet clear whether they will be offered the second – or indeed whether they are likely to accept the offer if it is made.
At the same time, many more have already been given appointments to receive the first dose this week, but now find themselves in a state of limbo, due to the sudden U-turn.
What happens next is, for the time being, undecided, with large quantities of vaccine already in stock and millions of doses more already ordered from AstraZeneca. To date 3,232,200 doses have been distributed to the regional health services of Spain, of which almost exactly two thirds have been administered: as a result, precisely 1,077,428 doses remain unused.
It is important to remember that the EMA maintains its judgement that the overall benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine far outweigh the risks associated with the very rare side effects (approximately 1 case per 100,000 patients), but this latest scare is bound to have an effect on the vaccination campaign throughout Spain and the rest of the EU. During the course of Wednesday the authorities in the region of Castilla y Léon took matters into their own hands and placed further vaccinations on hold, (a decision which was overturned by the national health authorities who ruled that the vaccine programme is dictated by central government, not the regional governments and ordered the programme to continue) before the Interterritorial Health Committee announced the suspension of AstraZeneca vaccination in the under-60s.
Anyone who is aged 60 to 65 and has been given an appointment this week, should go to their appointment as scheduled the health ministry says.
Across the country the regional health authorities are administering AstraZeneca to this age group and then working down through the age groups, oldest to youngest, using the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
All those in care homes and over 90 have been vaccinated; in most cases the over 80s have been completed and the regions are working down through the 70s.
Residents are urged to ensure that their health centre has the correct contact details, PARTICULARLY mobile phone numbers as messages are being sent via mobile phones with appointments for vaccinations.
Over 80 and not vaccinated yet?
The phase of the vaccination campaign aimed at those aged over 80 is now coming to an end in Spain. Anyone who has not yet received their vaccine or an appointment to do so is urged to contact their local medical centre as a matter of urgency.