TORONTO (Reuters) – Canada’s National Immunization Advisory Committee on Monday released new guidelines advising against vaccinating people aged 65 and older with AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, citing lack of information on its efficacy age group.
The vaccine was approved Friday by drug regulator Health Canada for people 18 years and older. The committee’s recommendations are not binding, but may have an impact on provincial vaccination plans.
In the decision of Health Canada, it was noted that the available clinical trial data were too limited to estimate how well the vaccine works in people aged 65 and older.
But it is also said that ’emerging real evidence’ in places that have already started using the vaccine represents a potential benefit and no safety concerns.
A preliminary study of Scotland’s vaccination published last week suggests that the shot of AstraZeneca was very effective in preventing serious infections there.
In Germany, advice to use the vaccine only for people under 65 has led to low uptake of available doses.
(Reported by Allison Martell; edited by Franklin Paul and Jonathan Oatis)