Sweden won't recommend Oxford vaccine for over 65's

[doireallyneedaname]

What do we think of this? It’s reported in several places.

I find it quite worrying as I have family over 65 in another country and it’s likely they’ll be getting the Oxford vaccine.

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-02/sweden-won-t-recommend-astrazeneca-vaccine-for-people-over-65

[Title edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

For crying out loud, that’s meant to say under 65’s!

So basically exactly the opposite of what you put in your thread title? Maybe get it edited?

It's due to lack of data saying it is equally effective, not data that says it is any worse.

Over coming weeks we will.also be seeing a lot of data coming out of the UK on AZ vs others, so hopefully soon it will be facts and not speculation here.

It's the other way around, they won't give the AZ to the over 65s. They have been using Moderna and Pfizer so far. Waiting impatiently for my mum to get the call/text, she is in Stockholm.

The article just says it's because there isn't enough data for the over 65s with the Astrazeneca vaccine yet. 🤷 Seems fair. I wouldn't call it worrying.

Ask MNHQ to delete thread and start a new one

Ask mumsnet to delete the thread fullstop.
Seemingly there were 3 cohorts that were used in the trial. One included older people [can't remember the exact age range]
No idea why they are saying this.

Maybe its this [Taken from the Lancet]

The limitations include that less than 4% of participants were older than 70 years of age, no participants older than 55 years of age received the mixed-dose regimen

Lets face it though, doesn'tmean to say it doesnt work!

There is zero evidence to say that it doesn't work in over 65's. There is some evidence that it works just fine in the over 65's. As time goes on I suspect that the evidence will show that it works well in all age groups.

I don’t know enough about it, was hoping someone could offer reassurance that my 76 year old dad will still have protection with the Oxford vaccine!

From another Paper:

However, the European Medicines Agency authorised the vaccine for use in all adult age groups across the 27 member states – although it acknowledged there were not yet enough results for people aged over 55 to determine how well the vaccine will work – meaning that Poland would be breaking from that decision.

Authorities in the UK – which has already vaccinated many elderly people with the vaccine – last week defended the vaccine’s efficacy and said there was evidence of a strong immune response among over-65s.

My mum has been vaccinated. I am sure it will be fine :)

@WineInTheWillows

The article just says it's because there isn't enough data for the over 65s with the Astrazeneca vaccine yet. 🤷 Seems fair. I wouldn't call it worrying.

It is worrying there isn't enough data, that is not a good trial.

If there had been more >65s in the trial it seems likely the data would have been fine. But the trial not producing much data isn't ideal - as it leads to these questions.

I find it very worrying. My parents have both had Oxford and now everyone is saying it doesn’t work.

It is worrying there isn't enough data, that is not a good trial.

The safety isn't in doubt though, just its effectiveness in that age group. The only way to get effectiveness data for that age group is to give the vaccine to people in that age group. We're essentially learning by doing.

@Glenchase

I find it very worrying. My parents have both had Oxford and now everyone is saying it doesn’t work.

Everyone?

It was approved with no age limitations by the MHRA, WHO and EMA.

@WineInTheWillows

It is worrying there isn't enough data, that is not a good trial.

The safety isn't in doubt though, just its effectiveness in that age group. The only way to get effectiveness data for that age group is to give the vaccine to people in that age group. We're essentially learning by doing.

Exactly, and that is going to cause people to be concerned.

The other trials had more over 65s, which is better as that produced data for that group.

Not to mention efficacy is much better with the other vaccines - I was already frustrated we’d be getting the Oxford one.

Clearly better with more data but I can't see of any logical reason why it would be so much less effective in the over 65s, the 4% of data they did have didn't hint at that. People should get the vaccine and stay vigilant, and very soon the data will follow.

The efficacy might be lower in the Pfizer though because they only noted symptomatic cases of COVID after vaccination. The Oxford study tested all participants and noted them all. I wouldn't stress it anyway, there'll be new data from a US study soon so you'll get your answers.

@WineInTheWillows is right. My 74 yo dad is on the Oxford trial, they initially said no thanks but later came back to say if he'd still like to, that they actually needed more people in that category. There are still relatively few. He has currently declined the vaccine because if he finds out whether he's actually already had it (or the placebo) he has to be unblinded and therefore off the trial. He's decided they need him on it. The more people who take the vaccine, the more data they collect.

Yes the efficacy is lower, but efficacy is only as good as the people who are vaccinated. It is better to have 90% of people vaccinated with something 85% effective, than 10% with something 95% effective, which lets face it, is the reality in Europe right now for this year.

Op my dad same age has had it too so hopefully it does work.

Tbh im surprised they dont switch to pfizer for any remaining over 65.
However more have noe been vaxxed in the uk than i guess in any trial so we will have a good idea of what does work at 12w soon.we are already a month on from some getting D1 of pfizer.

The EU and the UK have very different vaccine supplies available. Because the EU has a lot of Pfizer and less AZ than they were expecting then it makes sense for them to use Pfizer on the over 65s because it has a somewhat more solid evidence base on that age group.

The UK has more AZ vaccine available, not nearly as much Pfizer, and a raging epidemic so we’re playing the odds and using the AZ vaccine on the moderately vulnerable 65-80 year olds because that’s what we’ve got available and we’ve got convincing but not perfect data to persuade us that it will work well enough.

If I had my seventh year old aunty in front of me and two syringes to choose from, AZ or Pfizer, I’d give her Pfizer. But if I had the choice of AZ or a three month wait I’d give her AZ without a second thought. That’s basically the position the UK are in.