The United Kingdom has limited the inoculation of the AstraZeneca PLC COVID-19 vaccine to preferably people over 30, the WSJ reported.
- The European Union’s health agency said it found possible links between the AstraZeneca vaccine and rare blood clots, but the shot’s benefits continue to outweigh the potential risks.
- The European Medicines Agency said it found no specific risk factors linking the vaccines to the clots.
- Those under 30 are now recommended to take shots developed by Pfizer Inc., BioNTech SE, and Moderna Inc.
- The U.K. government last week said there were 79 severe blood-clotting cases out of 20 million administered doses of the vaccine. 19 deaths were reported.
- EU countries such as France, Germany, and Italy earlier suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccines last month following reported rare blood clots, but have since resumed vaccinations.
- Germany last week said it would restrict use of the vaccine for people younger than 60, while Canadian authorities urged a halt for people under the age of 55.
