“This is another option, and it’s a good option,” Supriya Sharma, MD, the chief medical adviser for Health Canada, said during Friday’s news conference.
Public health officials raised concerns about the AstraZeneca vaccine after an early study showed that it might not prevent mild and moderate disease caused by the B.1.351 variant first identified in South Africa, the AP reported. South Africa scaled back a planned rollout of the vaccine and opted to use the unlicensed Johnson & Johnson vaccine for healthcare workers.
The World Health Organization and more than 50 countries have authorized the two-dose AstraZeneca vaccine, which is cheaper to manufacture and easier to store at typical refrigerated temperatures. The vaccine makes up the bulk of the stockpile for COVAX, the global COVID-19 vaccine distribution initiative.
The U.S. hasn’t yet authorized the AstraZeneca vaccine. Some countries — such as France and Germany — have authorized it only for people under 65. Health Canada said the vaccine would work in older adults based on a pooled analysis from four ongoing clinical studies, as well as data from countries where the vaccine has been approved.
“We’re starting to get real-world evidence,” Sharma said. “There is evidence that in older age groups, it would be effective.”Global News, “Coronavirus: Canada secures 2M doses of CoviShield vaccine, to arrive in weeks.”© 2021 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.