(Adds MHRA statement)
LONDON, April 5 (Reuters) - Britain's health regulator is
considering a proposal to restrict the use of the
Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in younger people over
concerns about very rare blood clots, Channel 4 News reported on
Monday.
"Two senior sources have told this programme that while the
data is still unclear, there are growing arguments to justify
offering younger people - below the age of 30 at the very least
- a different vaccine," the broadcaster reported.
The UK's regulator, the MHRA, said later on Monday that no
decision had been taken.
It previously said the benefits of the vaccine in the
prevention of COVID-19 far outweighed any possible risk of blood
clots and that people should continue to get their vaccine when
invited to do so.
"Our thorough and detailed review is ongoing into reports of
very rare and specific types of blood clots with low platelets
following the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca," Medicines and
Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency Chief Executive June Raine
said. "No decision has yet been made on any regulatory action."
Britain has managed one of the fastest vaccine rollouts in
the world, with 36 million people receiving a first or second
shot. It started providing vaccines to its oldest citizens
first, along with healthcare workers and the clinically
vulnerable.
(Reporting by Kate Holton; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and
Peter Cooney)
Astrazeneca (AZN)
