Vaccine roll-out may face delays
The Scottish Government is considering delays to the Covid-19 vaccination programme after a decision to offer under-30s an alternative to the Astrazeneca vaccine over a possible link to “rare” blood clots. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said those aged 18 to 29 will be offered different vaccines where possible. While blood clots are very rare, the regulator said that, in the case of young adults with no underlying health conditions, the risk between the virus and the vaccine is “very finely balanced”.
Those under 30 who have been given a single dose of Astrazeneca vaccine should be given a second dose of the same vaccine.
The Scottish Government is considering delays to the Covid-19 vaccination programme after a decision to offer under30s an alternative to the Astrazeneca vaccine over a possible link to “extremely rare” blood clots. comes after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced that those aged 18 to 29 will be offered different vaccines where possible in the UK.
While incidents of blood clots are very rare, the regulator said in a press conference with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), in the case of young adults with no underlying health conditions the risk between the virus and the vaccine is “very finely balanced”.
Those under 30 who have been given a single dose of Astrazeneca vaccine should be given a second dose of the same vaccine, health officials said, and those over 30 who are offered the jab should accept it without fear.
Figures suggest the risk of rare blood clot is the equivalent to four people out of every million who receive the vaccine.
The Scottish Government said it would follow the change in guidance from the JCVI, but stressed that the benefits of the A st raze ne ca vaccine“out weigh the risks”.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nicola Steedman said the government is “currently considering” whether the change may impact the delivery programmein scotland, but added that at the moment the nation is on track to give a first dose to all over 18s by the end of July.
The first dose soft he modern a vaccine were given in Scotland yesterday.
Due to cold storage requirements the jag is being delivered only at mass vaccination centres, beginning in Glasgow and with Edinburgh and Aberdeen to follow.
“Following the statements by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (Mh ra) and the joint committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) we want to stress that the evidence shows that, overall, the benefits of the Oxford/astrazeneca vaccine outweigh the risks and it continues to be a safe and effective vaccine,” said Dr Steedman.
“However, the Scottish Govit
ernment will follow the JCVI recommendation to offer alternative vaccines to adults under 30 without underlying health conditions."
She added: “We continue to urge anyone offered a vaccination to take up their appointment. Everyone who has received their first dose of the Astrazeneca vaccine should receive their second dose as this gives greater and longer lasting protection against the virus. This is with the exception of the very few individuals who have had a blood clot with low platelet counts after their first injection, or an allergic reaction.” Professor Wei Shen, chairman of the JCVI, said the recommendation was made “out of the utmost caution” rather than because of“any serious safety concerns”.
The MHRA said the benefits of the vaccine still outweigh the risks overall, but while it has not concluded that the vaccine causes rare brain clots, it says the link is getting firmer. The agency said the balance of risk for the Astrazeneca vaccine is very favourable for older people but "more finely balanced" for younger groups, who do not tend to suffer serious Covid illness.
As a result, people aged 18 to 29 will be offered the Pfizer, Moderna or other jabs that come on stream as the vaccination programmerolls out across theuk. Separately, are view by the european Medicines Agency( EM A) concluded yesterday that "unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effects" of the Oxford/astrazeneca vaccine. Emer Cooke, executive director of EMA, said its review "confirmed that the benefits of the Astrazeneca vaccine in preventing Covid-19 overall outweigh the risk of side effects", adding: "Vaccination is extremely important in helping us in the fight against Covid-19."
Dr Sabine Straus, safety committeechair woman at thee ma, said: "This vaccine has proven to be highly effective, it prevents severe disease and hospitalisation and it is saving lives. "Vaccination is extremely important in helping us in the fight against Covid-19 and we need to use the vaccines we have to protect us from the devastating effects." Up to March 31, the MHRA in the UK has received 79 reports of blood clots accompanied by low blood platelet count, all in people who had their first dose of the vaccine, out of around 20 million doses given. Of these 79, a total of 19 people have died, although it has not been established what the cause was in every case. The 79 cases occurred in 51 women and 28 men, aged from 18 to 79.
Of the 19 who died, three were under the age of 30, the MHRA said.
Some 14 cases of the 19 were cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), a specific type of clot that prevents blood from draining from the brain. The other five cases were other kinds of thrombosis in major veins. The figures suggest the risk of rare blood clot is the equivalent to four people out of every million who receive the vaccine.
Meanwhile, in Europe, the EMA has carried out an indepth review of 62 cases of CVST and 24 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis in which 18 people died. The MHRA'S chief executive, Dr June Raine, said there is a "reasonably plausible" link between the Astrazeneca jab and rare blood clots.