(Adds details on Czech Republic and Slovakia)
WARSAW, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Poland will raise the upper age
limit for people being given the AstraZeneca vaccine to
69, and will take COVID-19 patients from neighbouring Slovakia,
a health ministry spokesman said on Friday.
COVID-19 cases have been surging in central and eastern
Europe, but in common with the rest of the European Union the
region has faced problems with vaccine deliveries.
"Today the health minister's vaccination team recommended
extending (the age limit)...Within an hour there will be a
announcement from the health minister," spokesman Wojciech
Andrusiewicz told a news conference.
The upper age limit for the vaccine produced by
Anglo-Swedish firm AstraZeneca had previously been 65. A number
of countries have set upper age limits for the AstraZeneca
vaccine, citing a lack of research into its effect on older age
groups.
Andrusiewicz also said that Poland would take in 10 COVID-19
patients from neighbouring Slovakia, and stood ready to help the
Czech Republic if necessary.
"In the next few days we will receive about 10 patients from
Slovakia (who are) in a serious condition," Andrusiewicz said.
"Talks with the Czechs are ongoing...We are ready to help both
the Czechs and Slovaks."
(Reporting by Alan Charlish and Pawel Florkiewicz Editing by
Alison Williams and Mark Heinrich)