Source::Xinhuanet
HELSINKI,
Finland resumed the use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday but only for people over the age of 65, as per the guidelines issued by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). The THL said that it was still investigating the possibility of side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine in younger adults.
Use of the AstraZeneca vaccine was suspended in Finland on March 19 as a precautionary measure after two individuals were diagnosed with brain blood clotting after vaccination. The resumption of the use of the vaccine is based on a statement by Finland's national vaccine expert group that it was safe for use for people aged 65 and older.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has also conducted an investigation and said it considers the vaccine safe and effective. "There is no increased risk of the very rare blood clotting disorder after vaccination in people over 65 years of age, whose possible association with the AstraZeneca vaccine is currently being investigated. Vaccinations for this age group can therefore be continued as normal," explained Taneli Puumalainen, chief physician at the THL, in a press release.
As a precautionary measure, the AstraZeneca vaccine is not currently given to people under 65 years of age in the other Nordic countries and in Germany. The Finnish health authority said that use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for people under the age of 65 may continue after the Easter holiday at the earliest.
As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in an increasing number of countries with already-authorized coronavirus vaccines. To date, more than 180,000 people in Finland have received the AstraZeneca vaccine.
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