AstraZeneca vaccines: Alain Fischer not in favor of its extension to under 55s

The chairman of the Vaccine Strategy Orientation Council, Alain Fischer, said Thursday, May 6, "rather to stay on the current recommendation" which reserves AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine for more than 55 years.

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"The risk analysis shows that the benefit of vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine for people under the age of 55 is not obvious, while it is massive beyond," he explained. during a press point organized by the ANRS health agency. Emerging infectious diseases. This restriction was decided in mid-March by the High Authority for Health (HAS), because the rare cases of atypical thrombosis and coagulation disorders which had motivated his suspension for a few days were largely observed in children under 55 years.

Several other European countries have taken a similar step, while Denmark has ruled it out altogether. The United Kingdom administers it to over 30s while some German regions offer it to everyone in exchange for a signed consent. The Minister of Health Olivier Véran announced last Friday that he had seized the HAS on the possibility of allowing all adults to receive this vaccine again, and under what conditions. The HAS confirmed this referral to AFP on Wednesday and explained that it was waiting to rule on data from the expert committee convened by the Medicines Agency (ANSM) on this subject.

“People under the age of 55 have a risk of severe Covid, but infinitely less than (older) people. On the other hand, they have a slightly greater risk, although it is still very low, of these thromboembolic accidents, ”argued Alain Fischer. "In a context where the circulation of the virus is decreasing (...) and since we can offer an alternative, (...) which is to be able to offer people under the age of 55 the RNA-based vaccine, I am rather the opinion to remain on the current recommendation of the HAS ”, added the immunologist. He clarified that this “personal position” could change “depending on the evolution of the data” and the resulting risk analysis.