MANILA – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine is still safe for people under the age of 60.
This came after the European medicine regulators found possible links between the shot and very rare cases of blood clots which drives the Philippines to suspend the use of AstraZeneca vaccines for senior citizens.
“On the contrary, cases of blood clotting and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) were not seen in people 60 and above,” FDA director general Eric Domingo said.
Domingo also explained that people 60 years and older will benefit from the vaccine because they are considered to be at high risk for contracting and dying from COVID-19.
However, he noted that the vaccine is safe and free of charge and urged older people and people with comorbidities to be vaccinated with the vaccines available from their local government units.
Based on evidences from experts, there are limited cases of blood clotting and low platelet count for people below 60 years old.
The EMA so far observed rare side effect only after the first dose, adding that for those who had gotten their first shot, the second dose could be taken if no size effects were observed.
It also received reports of 169 cases of the rare brain blood clot as of early April, after 34 million doses had been administered in the European Economic Area, according to Sabine Straus, chair of the EMA’s safety committee.
“The reported combination of blood clots and low blood platelets is very rare, and the overall benefits of the vaccine in preventing COVID-19 outweigh the risks of side effects,” EMA said in a statement.
