Canada has put a temporary hold on the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine for those under 55 years of age, the country’s health officials revealed.

The decision came after a few cases of rare but life-threatening reports of blood clots and bleeding after vaccination were proclaimed in Europe earlier this month. These side effects were mostly observed in young women. However, Canada has administered over 3,07,000 AstraZeneca doses to date and has not reported any such cases.

Health Canada, the government department responsible for the country’s National Health Policy will reportedly add new terms and conditions that require manufacturers to conduct detailed assessments of the benefits and risks of the vaccine by age and gender in the Canadian context.

The Deputy Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Howard Njoo was quoted saying that the country has decided to keep the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on hold among those aged under 55. He also called it a prudent step, seeing that the country has an ample supply of alternative COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna Inc. and Pfizer.

According to the National Advisory Council of Immunization (NACI), the clotting complication rate is not yet clear. Until now, 40% of people who have developed it have died, but the number can be reduced as more cases are identified and treated early, it cited.

Moreover, the independent expert panel stated that there are substantial uncertainties about the benefits of administering the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to adults under 55 years of age.

Older people face a host of serious symptoms after being affected by COVID-19, and blood clotting complications are rare in that age group, NACI revealed, adding that the vaccine can hence be offered to the geriatric population with informed consent.

AstraZeneca Canada and the Serum Institute of India (SII)- which is manufacturing a different version of the vaccine under license will be severely affected by the pause.

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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-canada-astrazeneca/canada-to-pause-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-use-for-those-under-55-require-new-risk-analysis-idUSKBN2BL2GY