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HEALTH-VIRUS-GERMANY-VACCINES-ASTRAZENECA
Berlin city halts AstraZeneca jabs for under-60s
BERLIN, March 30, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Germany’s capital city Berlin on
Tuesday suspended vaccinations with the AstraZeneca jab for under-60s, as
further reports emerge of blood clots among people who have received it.
“We are provisionally stopping vaccinations with AstraZeneca for under-
60s,” said Berlin’s health minister Dilek Kalayci, citing “new data about
side effects”.
She added that it was a “precautionary measure” while the city awaited an
official recommendation from federal health authorities.
“We have no serious cases of side effects in Berlin,” Kalayci explained,
adding that “everyone who has already received a first jab of AstraZeneca has
very good protection”.
Germany’s medicines regulator Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) has now reported
31 cases of blood clots in people who have received AstraZeneca, Spiegel
magazine reported Tuesday.
Almost all cases are reportedly in younger and middle-aged women, prompting
several German hospitals to suspend the use of the jab for women under 55
this week.
According to Kalayci, Germany’s regional health ministers will meet at
short notice on Tuesday and that Germany’s vaccine commission was expected to
make a new recommendation on AstraZeneca soon.
On Monday, Canada also recommended halting the use of the jab for under-55s
“pending further analysis”.
The AstraZeneca vaccine has had a rollercoaster ride, with Britain, which
developed it, staunchly supporting its use, South Africa outright rejecting
it, and more than a dozen EU nations suspending shots in mid-March before
most restarted rollouts but with a patchwork of age restrictions.
France has limited its use to over-55s, while Spain to under-65s.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1847 hrs