WHO: “Benefits of AstraZeneca’s Coronavirus Vaccine Far Outweigh Risks”

The scientific group that advises the World Health Organization (WHO) Regarding vaccination, he maintains that the benefits of the vaccine against coronavirus from AstraZeneca far outweigh the risks – such as thrombosis– based on the updated recommendations you just published.

The experts, who have issued this update after analyzing the results of recent studies, consider “plausible”A causal relationship between this product and rare cases of thrombosis.

He adds that “biological mechanismsOf this syndrome are still under investigation.

Regarding this concern, which has spread through the countries that use or have pending orders for this vaccine, the scientific group of the WHO remember that most cases have been registered in the European Union and the United Kingdom.

Referential image of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine. (Marco Bertorello / AFP). (MARCO BERTORELLO /)

Even rarer cases have been reported outside these territories, despite the widespread use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The data collected in the UK As of March 31, they indicate that there were approximately 4 cases of thrombosis per one million vaccinated and in the European Union there was one case per 100,000 vaccinated.

“Data from Europe suggest that risk may be higher in young adults compared to older adults, without a specific risk factor being identified”Notes the advisory group.

Data after phase 3 from clinical trials conducted last year have allowed the efficacy rate of this vaccine to be revised upwards, which is now considered to be 76% for symptomatic COVID-19 infections, compared to 63% previously estimated.

Immunization experts point out that in the age group over 65 years the efficacy has been 85% and that it has been confirmed to be safe.

The most relevant conclusion of the experts is that “In countries with transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the benefit of vaccination to protect against COVID19 far outweighs the risks”.

However, it recognizes that the risk-benefit assessment may differ from country to country and that each country must consider its own epidemiological situation, the risks to its population, and the availability of other vaccines.

It should be noted that in older groups the benefit of this vaccine is more important compared to the risks. The WHO also emphasizes the recommendation of the use of the vaccine AstraZeneca in countries where variants of the original coronavirus circulate.