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SAM Chancellor Jurgita Grebenkovienė stressed that the decision not to change the procedure was made taking into account the recommendations of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and “the current epidemiological situation in the country, which continues to be cause for concern” .
According to her, the main reason for the decision was that the severe form of coronavirus infection is becoming more common in young people and the average age of the hospitalized population is decreasing. “It is precisely this trend that we have done,” the SAM foreign minister said at a press conference this Thursday.
However, SAM’s position disagrees with a member of the Health Expert Council oncologist Marius Strioga.
“For the younger group of people, I would restrict the use of AstraZeneca today. At least 30 years. With 40 m. I would not give it to individuals. But a different decision was made,” he said Thursday. lrytas.lt said the expert.
It is not possible to change the vaccine.
J. Grebenkovienė stated that people who have already been vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, but who do not want the second dose, do not have the opportunity to choose another vaccine. “The vaccine manufacturers do not offer in their leaflets the possibility that the second vaccine is from another manufacturer. Nor is there a decision in our country that allows the population to choose a vaccine from another manufacturer. So that possibility does not yet exist”, said the Chancellor of SAM.
She argued that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks of hospitalization or even death with a high risk of infection. However, as the epidemiological situation in the country improves, the decision may be reviewed.
“We will evaluate the situation, the adverse reactions, if we have them, then we will definitely review this decision,” said J. Grebenkovienė.
SAM’s chancellor said that in May Lithuania should reach about 40 thousand. AstraZeneca vaccine dose. SAM does not yet have a delivery schedule for June.
When asked how the AstraZeneca vaccine would be used if the population did not want to be vaccinated, J. Grevenkovienė said he saw no such threat. “We see that this vaccine is quite popular and younger residents are choosing this vaccine. We have a slower use of the vaccine, but it is not badly vaccinated, ”said the SAM Chancellor.
The expert did not change his mind
On Thursday, following the SAM decision, AstraZeneca will continue to vaccinate all adults lrytas.lt contacted Marius Strioga, a member of the Council of Health Experts. He affirmed without changing his mind. The AstraZeneca vaccine should not be given to young adults.
“It just came to my attention then. We value the immune side more, and SAM is global,” said M. Tririoga.
“For the younger group of people, I would restrict the use of AstraZeneca today. At least 30 years. 40 m. I would not give it to individuals. But a different decision was made,” added the expert.
He considered that SAM was probably addressing the issue of ensuring a smooth vaccination program, as “abandoning” the AstraZeneca vaccine would significantly confuse him.
“They (SAM – aut. Note) evaluate all the factors. For example, how would the vaccination program continue if a vaccine fell, how would it be necessary to compensate or would the doses from other manufacturers be sufficient,” predicted M. Tririoga. SAM’s decision.
However, the immunologist said the balance could tip the AstraZeneca vaccine if the epidemiological situation worsened. “If the scale of the pandemic becomes severe again, the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks. It is a slippery game,” said M. Tririoga.
“If there are serious side effects among young people who have a very low risk of getting sick and especially dying, then it is wrong. This is being balanced at the border, hoping that with intensive vaccination we will gain more, there will be no serious side effects” MM Tririoga said.
According to the Department of Statistics, Lithuania has already reached 1.37 million. COVID-19 vaccine dose. 1.23 million doses have already been used.
Vaccination in Lithuania is carried out with vaccines from four manufacturers: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson.
