MHRA may change advice for young people receiving AZ vaccine

[IloveSooty424]

I just saw this news story on Channel 4 news tonight.

www.channel4.com/news/uk-medicines-regulator-considers-issuing-new-advice-over-oxford-astrazeneca-jab

It seems the MHRA may follow other European countries and Canada and advise that younger people should not receive the AZ vaccine. It seems the decision will be made imminently in the coming days.

I’m due to book my vaccine this week and don’t know whether to wait and see how this plays out. I’m 42. I’m also concerned that if younger people will only be offered the Pfizer vaccine it will slow down the vaccine programme substantially.

Any thoughts?

There have been 22 reports of this with AZ, 8 other cases of an unusual combination of clotting and low platelets with AZ and NONE with Pfizer

Yes, there have been reports of immune thrombocytopenia in the US with low platelets count. But this doesn't reach the European (or UK media)

www.nytimes.com/2021/02/08/health/immune-thrombocytopenia-covid-vaccine-blood.html

This isn’t the same condition. What’s unusual about the condition being reported after AZ is the odd combination of these low platelets plus multiple clots.

Blood Clotting Needs to Be Watched with All COVID Vaccines, States the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS)

www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blood-clotting-needs-to-be-watched-with-all-covid-vaccines-states-the-association-of-american-physicians-and-surgeons-aaps-301262360.html

Really need some guidance on how to blame UvdL and the EU for this.

I’m sure a way will present itself eventually, bongsuhan. Perhaps she’s been busy yellow carding AZ side effects or something.

We really need some further guidance and reassurance on this. As it's not statistically significant, and the vaccine has already been administered successfully to many millions, I'm sure everything will be ok, and no changes necessary. However I've seen so many anxious people on these threads in the last 24 hours. Very worrying.
I suspect that the background to this is political and business interests. Other competitive pharmaceutical companies unhappy that AZ has been offered cost price. And Europe/EU concerned as they weren't on the ball initially with their vaccine orders.
A lot of parties trying to discredit AZ. It seems to be amounting to a smear campaign.
Meanwhile, many lives are at risk from Covid

RafaIsTheKingOfClay - well I didn't have to wait to long, even I feel that more of an effort could have been made.

I'm 50 and on the Pill still (not for contraceptive reasons), had one vaccine, keen to get my other one done now! I've read the data carefully and whilst I think there could be a risk/benefit ratio different for young people like my teenagers, which makes it probably not worth having, I definitely don't want covid or Long Covid and risk-wise it seems pretty standard to me. There's always a slight risk with vaccines but the benefits in terms of preventing severe covid, hospitalization and death is definitely worth it for my age group I think, and so I'm not nervous about having the second jab. Lots seem to be on here but the people I know are all queuing up for their second, having almost full immunity and being able to live a pretty normal life is so very attractive right now.

Just to clarify, I've had AZ and am not worried about having the second AZ, neither are my parents in their 70's.

@bongsuhan

Really need some guidance on how to blame UvdL and the EU for this.

Those zealous anti-EU AZ defenders must be feeling pretty silly right now

seems to be political and profit driven as the AZ vaccine is so cheap. Any issue needs to be investigated properly, but the amount of negative press it's receiving (while everything seems to be suspiciously quiet on all the other vaccines is ridiculous)

This is just another variety of conspiracy theory. This sort of speculation doesn't help imo. We need to hear the scientists.

Meanwhile, many lives are at risk from Covid

We’ve already vaccinated the people most at risk. We’re moving into much lower risk groups. The difference that the vaccine will make to deaths/hospitalisation in these groups is fairly minimal because there weren’t that many to begin with.

This is just another variety of conspiracy theory. This sort of speculation doesn't help imo. We need to hear the scientists.

You know, this is. Very good point well made. Let's wait for the scientists

The EMA has confirmed they have found a link between the AZ vaccine and cerebral thrombosis. But they also think that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks and that it should continue to be used -
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/astrazeneca-vaccine-blood-clots-ema-b1827238.html

They say it's up to the countries to establish specific guidelines around which age groups were given which vaccines.

@gingermcwhinger

It just doesn't make sense to me, considering the stats. There have been 17m vaccines given and the incidence of clots is in low double figures. I'm not a statistician but surely the has to show that on balance it's safe for the vast vast majority who take it?

But nowhere near 17m women under 30 have had it.

Dd is 19 and has had her first AZ dose. Ironically dh who had his first dose at the same place 2 days earlier got given Pfizer. She's been on mefenamic acid for years so is at higher risk of getting a blood clot so it is concerning.

It seems the MHRA may follow other European countries and Canada and advise that younger people should not receive the AZ vaccine
“Younger” means under 30. So not you. Even if AZ is banned for under 30s, a 42yo such as yourself will still be given it. So you might as well book because you’ll be getting it regardless.

It’s not massively reassuring for those of us between 31 and 55 to hear that it might be banned for under 30s in the UK. Not when other countries say it should be for over 55s only.

@MimiPigeon

It seems the MHRA may follow other European countries and Canada and advise that younger people should not receive the AZ vaccine “Younger” means under 30. So not you. Even if AZ is banned for under 30s, a 42yo such as yourself will still be given it. So you might as well book because you’ll be getting it regardless.

I have booked for Friday. I don’t know which vaccine I’ll be offered but I will definitely be having it.

It’s strange our definition of young is under 30 yet in Germany it is under 55.

@User5485421134

Those zealous anti-EU AZ defenders must be feeling pretty silly right now

Nope

Very difficult decision for the MHRA and other regulators, not to mention a god send to anti vaxxers everywhere.

CV can be a devastating deadly disease, with extreme economic consequences....
So the (atm) very rare side effects of AZ seem worth the risk, until its you or your DD that dies from a blood clot.

It highlights the dangers of medicines rushed with emergency approval and no long term monitoring BUT what choice did anyone have? Wait 3 years in LD until we know for sure because that was the alternative.

I recall there were several posters saying that Euro states had suspended AZ/taken steps to investigate the clotting issue because they were jealous of the UK and wanted to trash "our" vaccine.

@Beebityboo

Great. Mum is 59. She's really not going to want to get the second, and then what happens? What a bloody mess!

IF she's that age, she's not in the group identified as potentially having the clotting.

I am 57 and will be having my second AZ when called.

@LacyEdge

It’s not massively reassuring for those of us between 31 and 55 to hear that it might be banned for under 30s in the UK. Not when other countries say it should be for over 55s only.

Completely agree. I'm towards the lower end of that age bracket and this outcome would make me feel less confident and therefore I am even less likely to accept the AZ vaccination. There are a lot of holes in the available data and comparatively few younger women have been given this jab.

@TooMuchYarn

The EMA has confirmed they have found a link between the AZ vaccine and cerebral thrombosis. But they also think that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks and that it should continue to be used - www.independent.co.uk/news/health/astrazeneca-vaccine-blood-clots-ema-b1827238.html

They say it's up to the countries to establish specific guidelines around which age groups were given which vaccines.

I think the ‘benefit outweighs risk’ comment was from the end of March.

They may be reviewing that statement for younger age groups for whom the virus isn’t that much of a risk anyway.

“Very meticulous work will be needed to understand if the risk-benefit ratio is in favour of the vaccine for all ages.”