(Adds background, vaccination figures)
MADRID, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Spain will administer
AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine to people aged 45 to
55 in the next phase of its national inoculation plan, the
Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
The shot, which is approved for those aged 18 to 55, is now
being given to people in that bracket with a high risk of
contracting the virus, such as daycare workers and
physiotherapists, as well as police, firefighters and teachers.
Most of Spain's initial priority group of nursing-home
residents and staff have already received two shots of the
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, which are now being rolled
out to over 80-year-olds and medics.
Those shots will then be given to those over 70 and over 60,
the ministry said, while people under 60 with a high risk of
serious COVID-19 infection will be next in line.
Overall the country has administered 2.6 million doses and
1.1 million people have received a full course.
To hit a national target of inoculating 70% of Spain's 47
million people by the end of summer, some regions may convert
big venues into makeshift injection centres and are considering
hiring retired doctors, students or pharmacists to help out.
(Reporting by Nathan Allen, editing by Andrei Khalip and Giles
Elgood)