BERLIN, Jan 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany’s vaccine commission STIKO said it was recommending the use of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus
vaccine only for under-65-year-olds, due to insufficient data on its
effectiveness on older people.
The panel of scientific experts said the vaccine, jointly developed with
the University of Oxford, should only be used for “persons aged 18 to 65
years old based on available data”.
“There is currently insufficient data to assess the efficacy of the
vaccine for persons aged 65 years and older,” it said.
“The AstraZeneca vaccine, unlike the mRNA vaccines, should only be offered to people aged 18-64 years at each stage,” it added.
Meanwhile, AstraZeneca and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hit back in response to STIKO’s findings.
A spokesperson for the UK-based company said the latest clinical trial data for its vaccine “support efficacy in the over 65 years age group.”
Johnson also gave his backing to the vaccine jointly developed with the University of Oxford. He said he did not agree with the German assessment of the vaccine.
“Our own authorities have made it very clear that they think the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine is very good and efficacious,” Johnson said.
On Wednesday, the European Union aired its frustrations with AstraZeneca, suggesting the pharmaceutical giant was reneging on its agreement to supply the bloc with vaccine doses.
The dismay with the Anglo-Swedish firm comes as Germany admitted it faces a shortfall of vaccines that could continue until April, Health Minister Jens Spahn said.
As a result, Spahn said there would be a meeting on Monday between Chancellor Angela Merkel, the nation’s 16 state premiers, and senior figures within the pharmaceutical industry.
Spahn had called for such a summit because the government is “working on the assumption of at least 10 more hard weeks due to the vaccine shortage,” he wrote on Twitter.
Germany’s vaccination process was dealt a blow last week when AstraZeneca slashed its expected initial deliveries of doses to EU countries by around 60%. — NNN-AGENCIES
