UPDATE 1-Germany approves AstraZeneca for over-65s

(Adds details)

By Thomas Escritt

BERLIN, March 4 (Reuters) - Germany's vaccination authority
has approved the use of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine on the
over-65s, the Health Ministry said on Thursday, in a step that
should help accelerate the country's faltering vaccination
drive.

It added that the Permanent Vaccination Authority had
recommended extending to a maximum 12 weeks the period between
receiving the first and second doses of the AstraZeneca shot on
the back of studies showing a longer gap improved its efficacy.

"This is good news for older people who are waiting for a
vaccine. They can now be vaccinated more quickly," the ministry
said. "We will shortly issue a regulation implementing both
recommendations."

Germany declined initially to authorise AstraZeneca's
vaccine for those aged above 65, saying there was a lack of
evidence from clinical trials confirming its effectiveness on
that age cohort.

But growing data showing the AstraZeneca shot's efficacy
among the elderly in Britain has led to a change of heart in
Berlin, while France has also eased a ban on administering the
shot to people over the age of 65.

The German decision was in line with recommendations by the
European Union's health regulator that the second shot of
AstraZeneca's vaccine be administered between four and 12 weeks
after the first.

There was no mention in the health ministry statement of the
other main vaccine being administered in Germany, from a
partnership between Pfizer and BioNTech .

Health Minister Jens Spahn has called for the gap between
administering the two shots to be extended to six weeks to
stretch supply.

Current guidance from the European Union's health regulator
is for the Pfizer shot to be administered at three-week
intervals in line with the company's own guidance.

Politicians have faced growing criticism for the slow pace
of vaccination in Germany, which is lagging well behind pack
leaders Britain, Israel and the United States.
(Reporting by Thomas Escritt
Editing by Riham Alkousaa and Douglas Busvine)