Quebec is suspending the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for people under the age of 55 following concerns it may be linked to rare blood clots.
The province says in a news release that the decision was taken in conjunction with the Public Health Agency of Canada as well as provincial and federal vaccine advisory committees.
More coming.
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Multiple sources have confirmed to The Canadian Press that federal immunization experts will change their recommendation to specify that the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine should not be used on people under the age of 55.
The source tells The Canadian Press it is for safety reasons and adds it is a recommendation and it will left up to the provinces to follow suit or not.
They spoke on background because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Several European countries that had suspended using the vaccine over concerns it could cause blood clots have since resumed administering it.
This morning, Prince Edward Island suspended its use of the shot for 18-to-29-year-olds.
A briefing with Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization and Health Canada doctors is planned for this afternoon to explain the details to Canadians.
As part of Health Canada’s continuing commitment to openness and transparency on all information relating to COVID-19 vaccines, the Department is updating Canadians on new actions it has taken.
Health Canada has previously communicated on its ongoing assessment of very rare adverse events reported in Europe of thrombosis (blood clots) with thrombocytopenia (low blood platelets) occurring after immunization with the AstraZeneca vaccine.
To date, no cases of these events have been reported in Canada.
However, through our ongoing international collaboration, Health Canada has become aware that additional cases of these events have been reported in Europe.
In light of this evolving information, Health Canada will be issuing additional terms and conditions on the authorizations of the AstraZeneca and Verity Pharmaceuticals/Serum Institute of India vaccines.
These will include a requirement that the manufacturers conduct a detailed assessment of the benefits and risks of the vaccine by age and sex in the Canadian context.
This information will support the ongoing evaluation of these rare blood clotting events, and allow Health Canada to determine if there are specific groups of people who may be at higher risk.
Health Canada has been in discussions with AstraZeneca on this evolving issue.
Health Canada says they will assess this information when it is received and will determine if additional regulatory actions are necessary. Health Canada will continue to work collaboratively with its international counterparts to collect and assess information.
More coming.
