The National Advisory Committee on Immunization suggests that people 30 and older may receive a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, but Newfoundland and Labrador health officials have no plans to change their recommendations regarding the vaccine.
NACI initially recommended suspending the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on anyone younger than 55 as health authorities launched an investigation into reports of rare blood clots. However, it changed its tune on Friday following a Health Canada safety assessment which showed that the benefits of the vaccine far outweighed any associated risks.
At this time and based on current evidence, NACI recommends the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine may be offered to individuals 30 years of age and older without contraindications if the individual does not wish to wait for an mRNA vaccine and if the following conditions are met:
- A benefit-risk analysis determines that the benefit of earlier vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine outweighs the risk of the individual getting COVID-19 while waiting for an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine;
- The individual provides informed consent once the benefits and risks of VITT compared to COVID-19 are clearly outlined, including how long the individual will have to wait for an mRNA vaccine and what public health measures the individual is able to take to minimize their exposure to the COVID-19 virus; and
- The individual will have to wait a long time in order to receive an mRNA vaccine.
Ultimately, provincial and territorial health officials will determine how the AstraZeneca vaccine may be used in their jurisdictions.
While some provinces have already lowered the cap to 40 years or older, Newfoundland and Labrador officials are keeping their feet planted at the 55-year threshold for now.
“Newfoundland and Labrador will not be changing our recommendations regarding AstraZeneca at this time.”
-Statement from the Department of Health and Community Services
As of Friday afternoon’s COVID-19 update, over 135,000 of this province’s 462,000 eligible adults had been vaccinated with at least one dose.
