Under-40s WILL be offered alternative to AstraZeneca vaccine over rare blood clot fears
PEOPLE under 40 will be offered an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab due to blood clot fears.
Officials said the move was “precautionary” and that the risk of a blood clot is still “extremely small”.
It is already recommended that people younger than 30 are offered the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines instead.
There have been 242 cases of blood clots reported from 28.5 million first doses and second doses of the AstraZeneca jab, according to a Government update on Thursday.
It means the overall chance is just 10 in a million.
For those aged 40 to 49 the incidence is 10.1 per million doses, and 17.4 per million for those aged 30 to 39.
Should I get my second AZ dose?
Yes.
Health experts have said those who have had a first dose of AstraZeneca and not suffered a clot should have a second dose of the same jab, irrespective of their age.
Prof Jonathan Ball, molecular virology, University of Nottingham, said: "Serious adverse effects have mainly been reported after receiving the first dose of the AZ vaccine, so if you have already had your first dose then it’s important that you still have your second dose to get good levels of immunity.”
A government spokesperson said: “Everybody who has already had a first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine should receive a second dose of the same jab, irrespective of age, except for the very small number of people who experienced blood clots with low platelet counts following their first vaccination.
“When people are called forward, they should get their jab. Vaccines are the best way out of this pandemic and provide strong protection against Covid-19.”
A government spokesperson said the AZ jab has "already saved thousands of lives in the UK and around the world".
They said: “More than 50 million vaccines overall have already been administered, and our current vaccine supply and rate of infection means we are able to take this precautionary step while remaining on track to achieve our target of offering a vaccine to all adults by the end of July.
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“Everybody who has already had a first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine should receive a second dose of the same jab, irrespective of age, except for the very small number of people who experienced blood clots with low platelet counts following their first vaccination.
“When people are called forward, they should get their jab. Vaccines are the best way out of this pandemic and provide strong protection against Covid-19.”