Canada Suspends AstraZeneca’s
COVID-19 Vaccine for People Under 55.
On Monday, Canada set age limitations on the
use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine. .
Under guidance by their National Advisory
Committee on Immunization, administration of the
vaccine has been suspended to those under age 55.
The decision is due to growing concern regarding
the vaccine’s association with blood clots. .
The condition is known as Vaccine-Induced
Prothrombotic Immune Thrombocytopenia.
Although no cases have been reported in
Canada, there have been several reported
cases of blood clots in Europe.
Those cases were primarily
in women below age 55. .
There is substantial uncertainty about the
benefit of providing AstraZeneca COVID-19
vaccine to adults under 55 years of age given
that the potential risks associated with VIPIT,
particularly at lower estimated rates, Dr. Shelley Deeks, NACI Vice Chair, via UPI.
AstraZeneca’s two-shot regimen will continue
to be administered to those over age 55.
According to Dr. Deeks, the high risk of
developing COVID-19 in that demographic outweighs
the low risk of developing blood clots