People under the age of 30 are set to be offered an alternative vaccine to the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab
Adult Brits aged between 18 to 29 will be offered an alternative vaccine to the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid jab, UK government advisors have revealed.
This comes after a review into the link between the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and rare blood clots from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
According to the UK’s vaccine regulator, The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), out of the 18.1 million people who have received the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, 30 people developed a blood clot.
The MHRA has since confirmed that 7 out of the 30 individuals who developed blood clots have died since 24 March.
However, the Chief Executive of the vaccine regular MHRA, Dr June Raine, allayed people’s fears this afternoon as she said the cases of blood clots are “extremely rare.”
Dr Raine said on live TV that the benefits of the Oxford jab continue to outweigh the risks for most individuals.
"The benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine against #COVID19 continues to outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people."
MHRA chief executive Dr June Raine says the benefits for older people are great, but is "more finely balanced" for younger people.https://t.co/tEhQi0lYdc pic.twitter.com/pewJXhCkcY
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 7, 2021
In addition to the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, the UK continues to roll out the Pfizer vaccine. Wales also administered the first doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine earlier today.
Speaking this afternoon, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson reiterated his view that the government remains convinced that the AstraZeneca vaccine is “safe”.
The PM told reporters today: “The crucial thing for everybody is to listen to what the scientists, the medical experts have to say later on today.”
Referring to the success of the vaccine rollout this afternoon, Johnson said: “You can really start to see some of the benefits of that – it’s pretty clear that the decline in the number of deaths, the decline in the number of hospitalisations is being fuelled, is being assisted, the steepness of that decline is being helped by the rollout of the vaccines.
“So it’s very important for everybody to continue to get your second jab when you’re asked to come forward for your turn,” the PM said.
