Multiple reports suggest the use of AstraZeneca is to be restricted to people aged 60 and over.
A recommendation is expected to be made to government this evening.
Ireland would be the latest EU country to limit the use of AstraZeneca after reports of rare blood clots linked to that vaccine.
NIAC meeting still ongoing though reports they'll recommend not using AstraZeneca for under-60s. Dept. of Health source stresses 80% of vaccines due over next three months are not AZ
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) April 12, 2021
Astra Zeneca - What Happens If You've Had Dose 1?
One of the key questions would be;
- What will happen for people under 60, maybe with an underlying condition, who've already been given one dose of AstraZeneca.
Immunologist Luke O'Neill says other countries are also grappling with that.
"France and Germany have said, if you've gotten one shot of the Astra Zeneca vaccine, get your second shot of a different vaccine."
If NIAC does recommend use in over-60s only it presents a serious headache for the government logistically.
There are still hundreds of thousands of over-60s yet to be vaccinated.
While the over-70s group likely to be finished around mid-May.
Over the next three months 20% of the vaccines due to arrive in Ireland are from AstraZeneca.
So that gives some scope to find a workaround that will cause minimal impact to the roll-out timeframes.
