Irish restrictions to ease on 12 April; Turkey has recorded 37,303 new coronavirus cases in the space of 24 hours
- Parts of Germany pause shots over blood clot reports
- Canada cites blood clot concerns in suspension
- WHO criticises China’s data-sharing as it releases Covid origin report
- Canada suspends use of AstraZeneca Covid vaccine for those under 55
- ‘Heart of darkness’: neighbours shun Brazil over Covid response
- Tourists in Greece and Spain but most of continent to stay at home at Easter
Spain confirmed it would use AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine for people aged 55-65 and could give Johnson & Johnson’s jab to older people when that becomes available in the country, Reuters reports.
Cadena Ser radio reported that a public health commission decided to remove the upper age limit of 65 on the AstraZeneca vaccine. A week ago Spain decided to reintroduce the jab for people aged 18-65 following concerns over cases of blood clots.
The German chancellor Angela Merkel has said she is open to being vaccinated with the Oxford/Astrazeneca Covid-19 jab.
“I have said when it is my turn, I will get vaccinated, also with AstraZeneca,” Merkel, 66, told a news conference on Germany’s decision to limit the use of the British-Swedish firm’s vaccine over health concerns. “The possibility of me being vaccinated is nearing.”
On the basis of the currently available, but still limited, evidence and taking into account the current pandemic situation, the Stiko recommends using the Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca for people over the age of 60.
Their use below this age limit, however, remains possible at the medical discretion and with individual risk acceptance after careful explanation.
