Shelley Deeks, vice-chair of Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization said that "there is substantial uncertainty about the benefit of providing AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines to adults under 55 given the potential risks".
She said instances of blood clots are "very rare" but British Columbia, along with other provinces, put a pause on the use of AstraZeneca on people under 55 for a few days until it receives further information from Health Canada.
In Italy on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mario Draghi received his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which his government temporarily halted the use of last month.
"I have to say very clearly, there is no direct link that the vaccine itself is inducing the antibody, it could be that the vaccine is triggering something else in the human body, which then is modifying the immune system, which is then starting to produce the antibodies", he said.
Some 2.7 million doses of AstraZeneca have been administered in Germany so far.
However, he said during the conference that there is no issue with people receiving their first shot from this tranche of COVAX vaccines and receiving their second shot from another batch, as long as it is the same vaccine. There has been three more deaths for a total of 1,458 since the pandemic began. Do this by staying small, staying outside and staying with your same group of close contacts.
Initially, several European countries hesitated to give the AstraZeneca shot to older people, citing a lack of data from the company about the vaccine's effectiveness in those aged 65 and over.
She also noted over-the-counter medication can also result in blood clots such as birth control pills.
Restarted administering the vaccine on March 19, now for over 65-year-olds only.
If people have already booked an appointment for a vaccine that is AstraZeneca, Reimer is encouraging people to still attend and not to cancel.
Dr. Birx Slammed For COVID Comments, Said Deaths Could Have Been Mitigated
Anthony Fauci , the longtime director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The documentary " COVID WAR: The Pandemic Doctors Speak Out " airs Sunday at 9 p.m.
Robinson said the pharmacies are prepared and have experience with flu shots, including the most recent campaign where one million people were vaccinated.
It convened two expert meetings this week to evaluate more data and could update its recommendations for the vaccine in the coming weeks.
The Opposition Liberals say in a statement the plan has left patients and pharmacies concerned and confused about where and when the vaccines will be available.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says that the AstraZeneca and COVISHIELD vaccines will be an "important tool" in getting BC past its current surge of COVID-19 cases.
The Lower Mainland, where the vaccines are being offered, is also the highest transmission area, Dix said.
Reimer added that the risk of having a severe outcome related to COVID for those over the age of 55 is much greater than the risk for younger Manitobans.
Vaccines in B.C. are now available for anyone 73 and older, Indigenous people over 18, and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable.
"We pay so close attention (to vaccines) and we monitor it so well, we're able to report on even the most rare side effects when it comes to vaccines, and that's what is giving us this moment to evaluate these rare encounters that we can't do the same way for any other prescription or over-the-counter medication or herbal product".
It's easy to forget that all vaccines approved for use against COVID-19 have been granted "emergency authorization", which means they will continue to be monitored and reviewed as they are administered to the general public.
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