UK recommends alternative coronavirus vaccines to AstraZeneca for under 30s

The United Kingdom recommends offering alternative vaccines against coronavirus to that of Oxford/AstraZeneca to those under 30 years of age, after a possible link between it and unusual thrombi has been detected in young adults. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI).

That population group will have the option to choose to be vaccinated with Pfizer and Moderna preparations, also approved in this country, although regulators continue to recommend the AstraZeneca vaccine in older adults, believing that the benefits outweigh the risks.

At a joint press conference, the CEO of the UK Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), June Raine, indicated that until March 31 there have been 79 cases of thrombi with low platelet count in people who received the first dose of the preparation from the University of Oxford.

Of these, 19 people have died, three of them under the age of 30 (although in some cases the cause is unknown).

Of the total affected, between 18 and 79 years old, 51 are women and 28 men, Raine said.

A member of the medical team administers a coronavirus vaccine at the NHS vaccination center, Robertson House, in Stevenage, north London, on January 14, 2021. (Leon Neal / POOL / AFP). (LEON NEAL /)

The JCVI explained that the use of the Oxford vaccine continues to be recommended /AstraZeneca in those over 30 years of age because the risk of becoming seriously ill or dying from COVID-19 is “highest“Than to develop those unusual thrombi, which are still”rare”In the population as a whole.

On the other hand, for those under 30 years of age without underlying pathologies, the risk from the coronavirus is lower and therefore it is advisable to avoid that possible rare side effect that the vaccine presents. AstraZeneca and offer alternatives “if they are available”.

Young people will still be able to choose the Oxford preparation, which is more widespread, if they prefer to be vaccinated quickly.

The Committee also clarifies that young people under 30 years of priority groups, such as the health sector or people with a weakened immune system, who have received a first dose of the Oxford vaccine should receive the second according to the schedule.

For its part, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) today confirmed a “possible link” from AstraZeneca with the cases of thrombus reported in some people who received this vaccine, but consider that its benefit continues to be “aboveOf the risk of a side effect.

On Tuesday, the University of Oxford stopped the clinical tests it carries out with its vaccine, developed with the pharmaceutical AstraZeneca, in children and adolescents until the decision of the MHRA announced today.

The provisional arrest of this study comes at a time when UK mistrust of the Oxford preparation is growing.AstraZeneca, which have already received the majority of the 31.6 million British inoculated with a first dose.

The Government has urged all citizens to continue to go to be vaccinated when they are summoned, be it to receive the injection of AstraZeneca, that of Pfizer or, from today, also that of Moderna, the three approved in the country.