MORE SAY ‘NO’ TO ASTRAZENECA
Australia, Philippines to stop giving its jabs to people under age 50 and 60 over blood clot fears
AUSTRALIA and the Philippines yesterday joined a growing number of countries halting the use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for younger people over fears it can cause serious blood clots.
In a further setback for Australia’s vaccine rollout, officials said the AstraZeneca shot should no longer be given to people under age 50 unless they received the first dose without any ill effects.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the decision shortly after the government’s medical advisory board decided to follow European and other countries in limiting the use of AstraZeneca.
“It has not been our practice to jump at shadows, it has not been our practice to take unnecessary precautions.
“We’ve been taking the necessary precautions based on the best possible medical advice.”
Australia has been one of the
world’s most successful countries in containing the spread of Covid19, with fewer than 30,000 cases and 1,000 deaths for a population of 25 million and virtually no ongoing community transmission.
But it has fallen far behind the government’s vaccination schedule, with just a million doses administered up to yesterday when it had pledged to give four million doses by last week.
In the Philippines, the Health Department yesterday suspended the use of the AstraZeneca Covid19 jab for people under age 60 after reports of blood clots overseas, in a setback for the country’s already slow vaccine rollout.
It comes amid a record surge in coronavirus infections that has forced more than 24 million people in the capital and surrounding provinces into a lockdown.
“While we have not seen such incidents in the country, the FDA has recommended to temporarily suspend the use of the vaccine for persons below 60 years old as we await results of the review being done by our local experts, as well as the official guidance of the WHO (World Health Organisation),” Food and Drug Administration director-general Eric Domingo said.
The Philippines has received about 2.5 million doses of Covid19 vaccines so far. It expects another three million AstraZeneca doses in the coming months.