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Vaccines with the AstraZeneca corona vaccine are now also suspended in Germany as a precaution. Belgium, for its part, considers the ban on vaccines irresponsible: the state of the measures
Astrazeneca corona vaccine could be extremely popular as an inexpensive and easy-to-store preparation. But the vaccine, developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford, for months has repeatedly faced criticism and reservations regarding efficacy, administration practice and potential side effects. Germany, France, Italy, and Spain have now also suspended Astrazeneca vaccines after reports of possible serious side effects. WHO and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced discussions about the vaccine.
What are the doubts about the effectiveness?
In November, Astrazeneca caused a stir with the announcement that its corona vaccine could keep up with the effectiveness of more than 90 percent of the much harder to store and more expensive vaccines from Biontech / Pfizer and Moderna. However, this success rate was only found in clinical trials if the first injection was only given with a half dose and the second vaccination with the full dose, the manufacturer admitted.
The developers of the Astrazeneca vaccine discovered this only by chance, because some of the test subjects accidentally received only half a dose at first. This mishap cast doubt on the overall reliability of the tests. Astrazeneca now claims the effectiveness of its crown vaccine at around 70 percent.
Why was the vaccine only approved to a limited extent?
After the EU-wide approval of the Astrazeneca vaccine in late December, Germany and other member states initially restricted its use for people up to 64 years old because there was not enough data available for older people. As a result, the vaccine was not usable for many people at priority level 1. It was not until early March that Germany and other EU countries also launched the drug for older people based on new research data.
What about massive delivery delays?
In January, the British-Swedish company announced that it would deliver only a third of the agreed 120 million cans for the 27 EU countries in the first quarter of 2021. Brussels reacted angrily because Astrazeneca apparently continued to supply the UK and other non-EU countries with quantities not reduced.
Last week, the British-Swedish company announced that it was expected to deliver just 100 million doses of vaccine to the EU by mid-year, 30 million of which in the first quarter.
What are the known side effects so far?
Confidence in the Astrazeneca vaccine could also suffer, as the EMA recently stated that it was necessary to add serious allergic reactions to the list of vaccine side effects. He noted that 41 reports of possible anaphylactic shock were being examined in relation to around 5 million vaccines in the UK. Astrazeneca has also made headlines for reports of serious blood clots occurring after vaccinations. The number of reported cerebral vein thromboses is low; there are said to be seven reports of more than 1.6 million vaccinations.
Does that mean the vaccine caused the thrombosis?
No, the BMG notification only mentions a “temporary connection”. Whether and how the vaccine could have caused the thrombosis is currently open and the subject of further research.
Is the step unusual?
Not at all. When new vaccines are introduced, it is closely observed what side effects or diseases occur in relation to the timing of vaccination. If there are reports that require further examination, the administration of the vaccine will be temporarily and temporarily suspended until more test results are available.
Such a step is a sign “that the systems for monitoring side effects are working” and not necessarily an indication that the vaccines caused the side effects, British health expert Peter English said last week after the ban on the drug. vaccination in Denmark.
Does that mean that the vaccine will completely fail in the fight against the pandemic?
The temporary suspension of vaccination is a “preventive suspension”, as explained by the federal Minister of Health, Jens Spahn (CDU), in a press conference scheduled at short notice. “If vaccination with AstraZeneca becomes possible again, which is definitely a possibility, we will again promote confidence in the vaccine.”
What should people who have recently received an AstraZeneca vaccine watch out for?
People who recently received an AstraZeneca vaccine and now have questions about the vaccination ban should contact their treating physicians, Jens Spahn said at the press conference.
“The IEP warns that people who have been vaccinated with AstraZeneca and who feel increasingly unwell more than four days after vaccination, for example with severe and persistent headaches or punctate skin bleeding, should seek medical treatment for immediately, “the BMG shared on Twitter.
Who exposes the vaccines against Astrazeneca?
On Thursday, Denmark initially suspended vaccination with the vaccine. It was followed by Norway, Iceland and the EU countries, Bulgaria, Ireland and the Netherlands. Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Luxembourg suspended the use of a certain lot of Astrazeneca, Italy and Romania stopped the use of another lot. Thailand, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Indonesia postponed the start of vaccination.
On Monday, on the recommendation of the Paul Ehrlich Institute, the Federal Ministry of Health also suspended vaccines with doses of Astrazeneca as a precautionary measure. After new reports of cerebral vein thrombosis in connection with vaccination in Germany and Europe, the institute considers more research necessary, the ministry said. France, Italy and Spain followed the same day.
What does the WHO say about the problems?
The WHO then announced a meeting of its vaccination safety experts for Tuesday, and the EMA scheduled a special meeting for Thursday. However, both authorities emphasized that so far no connection could be established between the incidents and the vaccine. WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan recommended that countries continue their vaccines for now.
What does the manufacturer say?
The manufacturer emphasizes that the analysis of more than 10 million cases has not shown “evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism or thrombosis.” Co-developer Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said there was “very reassuring evidence” that the vaccine had not caused an increase in blood clots in the UK, so far its main use in Europe.
Who will continue to vaccinate with Astrazeneca?
However, not all countries want to stop vaccination with Astrazeneca. Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said the drug was “a very good vaccine and a protection against a disease that kills.” It would be “irresponsible to stop this vaccination campaign.” However, he asks the EMA to put all available data on the table before Thursday. Because of such national decisions, the Austrian government demands a pan-European approach, as Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said in Vienna. “We have agreed on a common European procedure for vaccinations. Individual national courses are neither effective nor trustworthy in this context,” Anschober said.
What are the reactions to vaccination stop?
Karl Lauterbach, an SPD health expert, criticized on Twitter the decision to stop vaccines with AstraZeneca in Germany for the time being: “Based on the available data, I consider this to be a mistake,” Lauterbach wrote. “The trial without suspension of the vaccine would have been better due to the rarity of the complication. In the third wave, which is now gaining speed, the first vaccinations with the AstraZeneca vaccine would save lives.” On the television show “Hart aber fair” he said: “I guess thrombosis can be traced directly to vaccination. But the plight of the pandemic is so great that the benefits outweigh the harms. The risk exists, but it is less “.
When asked if he would be vaccinated with Astrazeneca, the spontaneous answer was yes. “Right here too.” So would the other guests, such as Ranga Yogeshwar and Andreas Gassen, director of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians.
Klaus Reinhardt, president of the German Medical Association, described the measure as “correct and important”. Now a quick clarification and full transparency is important. “Otherwise, trust will be lost.”
