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MILAN, June 13 (Reuters) - The head of the EU drug
regulator's COVID-19 task force said on Sunday that
AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine had a favourable
risk-benefit profile for all age groups and particularly for
those aged over 60.
Italian newspaper La Stampa earlier quoted European
Medicines Agency (EMA) task force chief Marco Cavaleri as saying
countries should avoid giving the vaccine to people aged over 60
in addition to younger age groups, amid fears over fears over
very rare blood clotting and as alternative vaccines become
available.
"Unfortunately my words have not been interpreted correctly
in a recent interview with La Stampa," Cavaleri said in a
statement to Reuters. The AstraZeneca shot "maintains a
favourable benefit risk profile in all ages but particularly in
the elderly above 60," he said.
The EMA's position is that the AstraZeneca shot is safe and
can be used for all age groups over 18. However several European
Union member states have restricted its use to those in the age
range 50 to 65, due to very rare cases of blood clotting, mainly
among young people.
(Reporting by Elvira Pollina
Editing by Frances Kerry)
