French health authorities recommend that the AstraZeneca vaccine be given to the elderly over 55 years old. This was decided because of the reports of a combination of clot formation and a reduced number of platelets in vaccinees.
Several dozen cases of vaccinees with these rare conditions are known in Europe. Most of these people are under the age of 55. Although it has not been proven to be side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine, France will only administer the drug to older people as a precaution.
The possible side effects resulted in several European countries, including France, temporarily suspending the vaccine’s use. The vaccinations with AstraZeneca were resumed in France after a few days on Friday after positive advice from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which spoke of a “safe and effective” vaccine on Thursday. The possible link between the vaccine and the possible side effects is under further investigation.
It is mainly people over 55 who are currently eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine in France. The younger people who have already had their first injection will soon hear about the consequences for them.
France, like many other European countries, initially only gave the vaccine from the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company to people under the age of 65. The reason for this was the limited participation of people over 65 in the study of the vaccine. Data from the UK later showed that the vaccine also works well in people over 65.
In Europe, about 20 million injections have been given with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Two doses are administered for optimal protection against Covid-19. The second injection will follow after four weeks and within twelve weeks.