People under 40 suggested to take alternative to AstraZeneca vaccine

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in the United Kingdom (UK) has suggested that people under age of 40 years old should receive alternative to Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

This suggestion has been made after a number of cases of blood clots came to light after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The JCVI said the suggestion has been made as a precautionary measure after assessing the risk of blood clots.

Prof Wei Shen Lim of JCVI said that people aged 30 to 39 without underlying health conditions should receive an alternative vaccine, “where available and only if this does not cause substantial delays in being vaccinated.” 

As of April 28, 28 million people in the UK have been vaccinated with the first dose, said Dr June Raine, the chief executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Of them, 242 blood clots and low platelet levels were reported.