FHI recommends AstraZeneca for seniors – NRK Norway – Summary of news from different parts of the country

The government has decided that the interval between vaccine doses one and two can be extended from three to six weeks. FHI will reach a final conclusion shortly.

If FHI decides to recommend increasing the interval between the first and second doses of the Pfizer / Biontech and Moderna vaccines from three to six weeks, more people will get vaccinated with the first dose faster, the government says in a press release.

– FHI is also studying whether the interval can be extended further. In that case, the rate of vaccination of the population will increase considerably with the first dose, says Health Minister Bent Høie (H).

FHI notes that there is increasing knowledge about prolonging the interval between doses one and two of this vaccine. They are now considering how important this is for protection against disease.

Various vaccines for large municipalities

In addition, NIPH will now change the so-called distribution key from being based on age 65 and over to being based on the population over 18 years of age.

This is because they now want to address vaccination in younger age groups, writes FHI in an assignment for the Ministry of Health and Care Services.

In today’s report at the Storting, Prime Minister Erna Solberg says the change will lead to municipalities with a younger population receiving higher doses.

– Several municipalities, including most of the larger urban municipalities, will now have a larger share, while others, especially the smaller ones, will have a lower share, which is in line with the age composition of the municipalities, writes FHI .

FHI is mandated to change the distribution key, so that vaccines can be distributed according to population figures as soon as FHI thinks it is logical.

Oslo receives 43 percent more vaccines

The change will see the municipality of Oslo receive 43.1 percent more vaccines than it receives today, according to FHI. While Ibestad in Troms will see the largest decline, with 41.8 percent fewer vaccinations than the municipality receives today.

– Some cities and especially Oslo have a relatively young population, so a change in the distribution key to reflect a larger part of the population will increase the number of doses for, among others, Oslo, writes FHI.

The institute writes that there are several arguments in favor of a geographic targeting of vaccine distribution over a period of time and recommends that the vaccine strategy be changed.

FHI has already introduced a slightly skewed distribution of vaccine doses to municipalities with high infection pressure, such as the capital.

The mayor fears that people’s motivation will deteriorate

Leka in Trøndelag is thus one of the municipalities that according to this plan will receive fewer vaccines, a decrease of 39 percent.

Mayor Elisabeth Helmersen (Labor Party) says the municipality is receiving two vials of vaccines today, corresponding to 12 doses.

– I’m afraid this means that we cut the number of doses in half. It is not possible to reduce 39 percent, says Helmersen.

She doesn’t want to over-dramatize the situation yet, but believes such a vaccine distribution seems unfortunate.

– We are one of the very few municipalities in Norway that are free of infection. It has not come on its own, as many may think, says Helmersen.

What he fears is that very few vaccines for the municipality can go beyond the motivation of the people.

– I’m afraid this deprives people of the motivation to be on the rally side.

She is considering raising this with the State Administrator.

Trondheim doubles vaccination

– In fact, we get what we should have. Since we have previously received a deduction, as we have a younger population than many rural municipalities and smaller municipalities, says Trondheim Mayor Rita Ottervik (Labor).

The municipality has calculated what this means and has concluded that Trondheim now receives approximately 20 percent more vaccines than it currently receives from the national pot.

Ottervik says he cannot come up with a concrete figure on how many more doses Trondheim will receive now. It depends on the number that comes to Norway.

– We have only vaccinated more than 7 percent in Trondheim, so we have a great need to get more vaccines and we have a great capacity to put them when we take them to the city, he says.

The mayor is also pleased that the government is extending the interval between vaccine doses one and two. This means that more people in the city can get their first dose of vaccine faster.

– The next three weeks we can now double the number of people we call to get vaccinated, since we don’t have to use some of the meager benefits we get to vaccinate dose two, he says.

Recommend the AstraZeneca vaccine for those over 65 years of age

In another assignment, FHI writes that they recommend that people 65 and older also be able to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.

– We are considering it and we have not concluded yet. We’re trying to get there this week or next, FHI’s director of infection control Geir Bukholm tells VG.

In the assignment, FHI writes that new results from follow-up studies after vaccination began in Scotland and England show that the AstraZeneca vaccine provides good protection against COVID-19 for people over the age of 65.

FHI writes that by allowing people 65 and older to receive the vaccine, this group will be offered a vaccine at a time somewhat earlier than with the current recommendation.

– The AstraZeneca vaccine is now recommended for people over 65 years of age. It is based on new knowledge about the effects of vaccines. This means that many of the highest priority groups can get vaccinated 2-5 weeks earlier than expected, Solberg tells the Storting.

The change will restore a more logical order for vaccination in risk groups, writes FHI.

Younger people in the risk group can get vaccinated earlier

– In addition, the change will lead to earlier vaccination of people aged 18 to 64 with underlying diseases with a particularly high risk of severe course, which will still be reserved for the mRNA vaccine, writes FHI.

AstraZeneca deliveries are uncertain, and advanced discussions on the importance of a modified recommendation on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine should be considered preliminary, writes FHI.

However, an expansion of the use of the vaccine will have the following effects, according to FHI:

• All people in priority group 3 (age group 75-84 years) will be offered dose 1 two weeks prior.
• Those in priority group 4 (age group 65-74 years and persons 18-64 years with underlying conditions) due to age will be offered dose 1 five weeks prior.
• Those in priority group 5 (age group 55-64 years with underlying conditions) will be offered dose 1 three weeks later.

Johnson & Johnson vaccine could be approved soon

In the text of the assignment, FHI writes that the AstraZeneca vaccine appears to give good immune responses in people over 64 years of age, but somewhat lower antibody responses in younger age groups. It’s common, writes FHI.

The institute further writes that the vaccine provides equally good levels of defense cells in all age groups.

– This gives indications that the vaccine will also have a good effect among the elderly. However, the immune response may be somewhat lower among the frail elderly and people with underlying diseases that affect the immune system, writes FHI in the text of the task.

About a month ago, FHI said they did not recommend the vaccine for people 65 and older. At the time, FHI said it was unclear how protective the AstraZeneca vaccine is for that age group.

Several news about vaccines may be on the way, according to Erna Solberg.

– Pharmaceutical authorities started the approval process for Curavax and Novax in February. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine may be approved on March 11. This is a one-dose vaccine, which will contribute to a further increase in the timing of the vaccine during the spring. We now hope that all adults will be offered a vaccine before or during the summer.