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Currently, Astra Zeneca’s covid-19 vaccine is not recommended for people over 65 years of age. However, several studies show that the vaccine is as effective for people in this age group as the Pfizer / Biontech vaccine.
According to state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, there may be reasons for the Swedish Public Health Agency to reconsider the Astra Zeneca vaccine recommendation.
– We are analyzing it and discussing how to achieve such a change in Sweden in a smart and good way, he says.
Welcome reconsideration
Emma Spak, Head of the Health and Medical Care Section for Sweden’s Municipalities and Regions (SKR), welcomes a reconsideration.
But a possible change in the recommendation of the Astra Zeneca vaccine, whose delivery has been delayed, would not mean more doses, he emphasizes. However, the vaccination rate would increase in the higher priority groups.
– It is still a delivery problem. But if you come up with a recommendation that you can use the Astra Zeneca vaccine for people over 65, it means you can vaccinate more people in that group faster and you don’t have to wait for the vaccine. from Pfizer. and Moderna’s vaccine.
Reasonable way to go
Per Hagstam, an assistant infection control physician and vaccination coordinator in the Skåne region, is also in favor of a reconsideration and considers it reasonable to change the recommendation.
– There are more and more studies pointing in that direction, even though they are still waiting for a larger effect study from the US, where they are also examining the effect of the vaccine in the elderly, he says.
If the Swedish Public Health Agency decides to recommend the Astra Zeneca vaccine for people 65 years of age or older, the Skåne Region will review its vaccination planning in the near future.
– The really big volumes won’t arrive until April, May and June. But of course the door would open if we could use the vaccine also for the elderly, both from time to time when there are more vaccines, says Per Hagstam and continues:
– In addition, it is a simpler vaccine to handle, for example, in primary care compared to the mRNA vaccine (Pfizer / Biontech and Moderna) that we use now, since this vaccine can be stored in a refrigerator.
Oskar Carlsson / TT
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