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The Romanian authorities could decide this Monday to lift the age restriction for the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is currently administered to people under 55 years of age, so the opportunity could arise for new appointments on the vaccination platform for people over 65 years of age.
Valeriu Gheorghiță, coordinator of the national vaccination campaign, said that on Monday, March 8, the National Committee for the Coordination of Vaccination Activities (CNCAV) will make the decision on lifting the age limit for the AstraZeneca vaccine.
“For the AstraZeneca vaccine, this week, only tomorrow (Monday, no), we will decide whether or not to increase the age limit. We will have a meeting at the National Committee level, we will have the point of view of the Ministry of Health, and the Agency National of Medicines and Health Products, and tomorrow we will officially announce the decision on the age limit for the AstraZeneca vaccine, “said Valeriu Gheorghiţă, on Sunday night, on Antena 3, reports Agerpres.
He stressed that the elimination of the age limit is practically being considered, but the decision will be based on scientific data.
„This decision will be made on the basis of scientific data and not for a completely different reason.. I do not want to imply that we are limiting or increasing this age limit because we do not yet have greater addressability for this type of vaccine, but because we have at least three important recommendations: the recommendation of the World Health Organization, we have data from studies Scientific studies that are ongoing and being published, and we also have experience in the UK from several million patients that have demonstrated the undoubted effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine for people over 65 years of age. After practically the first dose, the hospitalization rate decreased by more than 94%, after a period of 28 days, practically one month after the administration of the first dose. However, from this point of view, since we see what is happening from an epidemiological point of view – we are witnessing a significant increase in the number of cases and it will probably increase in the next period – I think it is important to ensure access as several people to the vaccination, relying, of course, on the relevant scientific data, which confirm and certify this efficacy ”, argued Valeriu Gheorghiţă.
How many vaccines has AstraZeneca received so far in Romania?
At the same time, he stressed that immediately after the lifting of this restriction, it will be possible to make appointments on the national platform about the existing vacancies for immunization with the AstraZeneca vaccine and in the case of people over 65 years of age.
He also stated that reluctance to vaccinate with AstraZeneca serum is a “false problem”, a phenomenon that was reported given the existence of these vacancies, currently available for this type of vaccine.
Vaccination with AstraZeneca reduces the risk of contracting this infection, but more importantly, it protects against the severe form of the disease, which leads to critical types of disease, with complications. “This is of particular interest to us, so that vulnerable people, those at risk, do not develop serious forms,” said Dr. Valeriu Gheorghiţă.
According to the data reported this Sunday by the CNCAV, with the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has been administered in Romania since February 15, so far 187,294 people have been immunized in our country, registering 32 local side effects and 1,956 general reactions.
Romania has so far received a total of 694,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine.
Editor: Luana Pavaluca
