By Caroline Pailliez and Antony Paone
PARIS, March 19 (Reuters) - France's medical regulator
approved the resumption of AstraZeneca COVID-19
vaccinations on Friday, but in a break with guidance from the
European watchdog said it should be given only to people aged 55
and older.
Medical staff told Reuters the French recommendation, which
came just weeks after Paris had initially said the Anglo-Swedish
vaccine should be used only on people under 65, risked confusing
the public and deepening public mistrust in the vaccine.
On Thursday, the European Medicines Agency said the vaccine
was safe for all age groups. It said it was convinced the
benefits outweighed the risks after reports of rare instances of
blood clotting.
However, France's National Authority for Health (HAS) took
note of evidence that the clotting affected younger people
mostly, whose risk of dying from COVID-19 was lower than the
elderly, and departed from the EMA's line.
EMA officials did not immediately respond to a request for
comment on the French position.
"When it comes to AstraZeneca, I have to say I sympathize
with those who struggle to make sense of it all," said
Marie-Louise Pradin, a doctor based in the northern city of
Lille.
"The reports of adverse effects don't look good. But we, as
professionals, know they are rare and not necessarily linked to
the vaccine. Now, the HAS puts out this advice. I know many
patients will just refuse to take it," she said.
France was one of more than a dozen European Union states
that suspended use of the Anglo-Swedish vaccine this week.
An EMA review covering 20 million people in Britain and the
European Economic Area, which links 30 European countries,
included seven cases of blood clots in multiple blood vessels
and 18 cases of a rare condition that is difficult to treat
called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST).
MISTRUST
The HAS said it would review its opinion soon as new data
came in. Guidance would also be given soon to those under 55 who
have already received a first dose of AstraZeneca, it added.
The new restrictions add yet another complication to
France's troubled vaccination rollout, which has been beset by
red tape, supply difficulties and public mistrust.
Prime Minister Jean Castex received an AstraZeneca shot on
Friday in a bid to shore up public faith in the vaccine. It may
take time.
"The AstraZeneca vaccine is such an important part of our
vaccination campaign. There is no other alternative. We can’t do
without it," said Jacques Battistoni, head of a general
practitioners' union.
France has so far delivered 5.7 million first doses -
roughly 8% of the population - compared with more than 25
million in Britain and more than 100 million in the United
States.
Pensioner Damien Gander said he harboured no doubts about
the safety of the AstraZeneca shot as he received the injection.
"Since the beginning, I have believed the vaccine is safe.
People are in a panic but there are always side effects."
(Additional reporting by Matthias Blamont and Benoit Van
Overstraeten; Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Alex
Richardson, Nick Macfie and Angus MacSwan)