Government to adjust AstraZeneca COVID vaccine program in light of new recommendations

Pharma News: The Australian Government received updated advice from the vaccine expert taskforce, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

The ATAGI recommends that at the current time, use of Pfizer’s Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine is preferred over AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Vaxzevria, in adults aged less than 50 years who have not already received a first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine.

The updated advice follows rare safety concerns involving cases of thrombosis (blood clots) and thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet
count) occurring from the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

In a statement, AstraZeneca Australia said “We respect the decision taken by the Australian Government based on advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) to recommend AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine be used in those over the age of 50.

“ATAGI provided recommendations based on their assessment of extremely rare blood clotting events with low platelets from over 34 million people vaccinated with AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine in the UK and EU, following review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK. The results of their review were announced yesterday, with the recommendation that people under the age of 30 in the UK be offered an alternative vaccine.

“Regulators around the world, including the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), have reviewed the rare clotting events and did not identify any risk factors, such as age or gender, or a definite cause for these extremely rare events. However, they came to the view that these events have a possible link to the vaccine and requested they be listed as an extremely rare potential side effect. Patient safety remains AstraZeneca’s highest priority and we continue to support regulators in Australia and overseas.”

The ATAGI also recommends people who have had their first dose of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 Vaccine without any serious adverse effects can be given their second dose. This includes adults under 50 years of age.

The Government will move swiftly to ensure Australia’s vaccination program and advice to patients is adjusted accordingly. The advice will be provided to National Cabinet today.