AstraZeneca vaccine for young people and women: news, expert opinion

Vaccine AstraZeneca still in the spotlight, for rare thrombosis and for administration to young people during open days in the various regions and to women, in particular after the recent cases of two young people hospitalized in Genoa after vaccination with the first dose of Vaxzevria. The news essentially concerns the opinion of experts, among those who believe that further reflection is necessary on the use of this anti Covid vaccine and those who solicit AIFA decisions in this regard. “In these hours there is a supreme attention to catch all the signs that can alert you to any side effects that lead to consider changes of indication. The AstraZeneca vaccine is already preferentially recommended for subjects over 60 years of age, because the relationship between the benefits deriving from vaccination and any risks becomes incremental with age and particularly favorable above this threshold “reminds Franco Locatelli, coordinator of the CTS and president of the Higher Health Council, to Rainews24. “What happened in the unfortunate girl from Genoa, to whom all my attention and affection for what happened” underlines Locatelli with reference to the 18-year-old hospitalized (yesterday then the news of the hospitalization of a 34-year-old), “poses an further reflection, also in the light of the changed epidemiological context, since the reduction of cases we have in the country makes this reflection even more compelling “. For Matteo Bassetti, director of the Clinic of Infectious Diseases of the San Martino hospital in Genoa, “a clear and definitive position by Aifa is needed on the AstraZeneca vaccine – underlines Adnkronos Salute – Just the ballet of communications and recommendations that have changed the bands age for this vaccine, with enormous communication errors by the drug agency and the ministry of health. It did not do well to this anti-Covid vaccine that the British data have always told us that it works very well. Now, however, also seen the impact of these errors on Italian public opinion, it is decided from tomorrow whether the AstraZeneca vaccine should no longer be used and geared up to make only mRna vaccines “. AstraZeneca “is a safe and effective vaccine. In some cases, however, there is a very rare association with a complication”, the rare thrombosis. On the age group of the use of this vaccine “indications have been given, but there is a problem of consistency with respect to these indications. If there is an alternative” to AstraZeneca in young people, “this alternative must be used” he says. Andrea Crisanti, guest at ‘L’Aria che tira’ on La7, commenting on the growing doubts about the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine to 18-20 year-olds during the open days in the various regions. Recalling that “there is a process that occurs naturally for every vaccine, which is authorized with certain indications. As data accumulates, the perimeter of the indications changes. This is happening with AstraZeneca – he stresses – There is a need for clarity , which can come from data and transparency, from sharing data with the scientific community “. According to virologist Fabrizio Pregliasco, professor at the State University of Milan,” for the AstraZeneca vaccine it could be useful to evaluate a limitation from 50 years in up for women and from 40 up for men as a prospective element. But to decide it must be the AIFA so that it is official. An indication or a communication is not enough “. “We have precise indications from the European drug agency Ema, implemented by the Italian drug agency Aifa”, on how to use the AstraZeneca anti-Covid vaccine, optimizing the risk-benefit ratio, reminds Adnkronos Salute Maria Rita Gismondo, director of the Laboratory of clinical microbiology, virology and bio-emergency diagnostics at the Sacco hospital in Milan. “We must absolutely adhere to these indications” and “it is sad to still see messages that create uncertainty in people, with the very serious consequence of encouraging abstention from vaccination”. For the Anglo-Swedish vaccine, Aifa has defined the use of the over 60s as preferential. “There is a recommendation for the over 60s and all in all if it is followed it would not be bad”, says Undersecretary of Health Andrea Costa a Un Giorno da Pecora, on Rai Radio 1. “The risk of AstraZeneca’s anti-Covid vaccine for women under 50 is infinitesimal and remains so even now. However, from a purely operational and pragmatic point of view, if vaccination is to be successful among young people we use a different product, now that vaccines are available in adequate quantities. So no one talks anymore “is the reflection at Adnkronos Salute by Massimo Clementi, director of the Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology of the San Raffaele hospital in Milan and teacher at the Vita-Salute University. “I believe that new indications on vaccines are appropriate” observes the Undersecretary of Health, Pierpaolo Sileri, in an interview with Fanpage.it talking about AstraZeneca and i to the youngest. “AstraZeneca’s vaccine is extremely safe for the age group over 60, it is very safe for the age group between 50 and 60, but under 40 for women, the mRna vaccine is certainly more suitable. now that the incidence of the virus is much lower, the gap between risks and benefits under the age of 40 is narrowing “says Sileri.” I believe that new indications are appropriate – he continues – At the age of 49 I do the vaccine and I do Johnson & Johnson . However, I would leave the evaluations to the scientists. “In the meantime, the Asl Napoli 2 Nord has decided that Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be administered tonight from 7 pm to 11 pm during the” vaccine evening “organized by the Asl Napoli 2 Nord, competent in the territory of 32 municipalities in the province of Naples including the islands of Ischia and Procida. Three days ago the ASL announced the “vaccine evening” with the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Vaccination with Pfizer and Moderna will be reserved for 4 thousand citizens residing in the ASL territory. will register on the dedicated platform. The link for registration will be published on the Asl Napoli 2 Nord website. The centers where the open day will take place are the Palazzetto dello Sport in Pozzuoli, the Montalcini school in Giugliano, the Bacoli hubs, Villaricca, Mugnano, Frattaminore, Afragola, Cardito and Acerra.