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The Health Service Executive has said his advice is that people over the age of 70 should receive the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines, rather than the AstraZeneca vaccine.
GPs were expected to use the first of 400,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine expected in a few weeks to begin vaccinating older people in mid-February, starting with those over the age of 85.
It is easier to handle since it is not necessary to keep it in very cold conditions.
The AstraZeneca vaccine will now be reserved for younger people.
HSE Clinical Director Dr. Colm Henry told RTÉ’s News at One that the view is that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines provide greater protection for older people.
Dr. Henry said GPs will administer the Pfizer vaccine, but this will be more complicated.
He said the advice is from the European Medicines Agency, through the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
While CANI decided this week that AstraZeneca was an option for older people, Dr. Henry said the advice is that mRNA vaccines are preferred for older age groups.
Meanwhile, the NIAC said this afternoon that any currently licensed Covid-19 vaccine can be administered to adults of all ages, including those aged 70 and over.
This includes the AstraZeneca, PfizerBioNTech and Moderna vaccines.
In its review of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the committee has cautioned that while there is a lack of efficacy data regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine in older adults, “there is nothing in the immunogenicity data to indicate that it will be less effective than in older adults. the youngest population “. .
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The NIAC said there is an urgency to protect people age 70 and older who are most at risk and that the best vaccine anyone can get right now is the vaccine that can be given as soon as possible.
He has “strongly urged” everyone to accept whatever vaccine is available.
“Vaccination of people 70 years and older should not be delayed. Whenever possible and timely, people 70 years and older should receive an mRNA vaccine,” he said.
NIAC said that for people 65 and older, a two-dose schedule of Covid-19 AstraZeneca administered at an interval of four to six weeks is recommended.
For those younger than 65 years of age, a schedule of two doses of the vaccine given four to 12 weeks apart is recommended.
Recently, health authorities in several European countries decided not to use the AstraZeneca vaccine in people over 65 years of age due to concerns about efficacy.
Dr Henry said the approach may change over time if more evidence emerges about the AstraZeneca vaccine, particularly its use in the UK.
Oxford Vaccine Group Director Andrew Pollard has said more data on older people should be available in a few weeks with the completion of a US trial and the first results of Britain’s vaccination campaign.
The clinical director added that GPs are “key vaccinators, key parts of this program” and are in the best position to promote vaccine adoption.
They “are key advocates for the elderly” who are most vulnerable to the virus, he added.
The ‘general’ advice is to administer the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to older people, @CcoHse Dr. Colm Henry has said.
He said this will start in mid-February, with the AstraZeneca vaccine doses to be given to other cohorts | Read more Covid-19 coverage: https://t.co/TfuwyqlCvJ pic.twitter.com/gpfF778fUs
– RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 3, 2021
He also described the adoption of vaccination as “unprecedented”, not just in nursing homes, but in all healthcare settings and among the general public.
Dr. Henry said that out of 580 nursing homes, 117 are incomplete in terms of vaccinations. He said that between 10 and 40% of staff or residents have not been vaccinated because they were not present at work, were ill with Covid-19 or were recovering from the virus.
He said teams were unable to enter four nursing homes due to public health advice based on the nature of the outbreaks.
Dr. Henry said they will contact these people, but it will take longer as they must allow a four week gap due to illness before they can vaccinate again.
He said those in “the vast majority of nursing homes” were vaccinated on January 25, but since then, those in additional facilities, not in the strict definition of residential care facilities, but where older people congregate. and they are at particular risk, they are being vaccinated.
He said he expects the second round of vaccination to be completed in the first week of March.
So far, there has been “unprecedented” acceptance of the Covid-19 vaccination program, said Dr. Colm Henry, HSE | Clinical Director | Read more Covid-19 coverage: https://t.co/TfuwyqlCvJ pic.twitter.com/Zev6N7GY7o
– RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 3, 2021
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