Increased vigilance required among physicians and patients / Where possible, younger people should be offered another vaccine


"I still consider AstraZeneca's vaccine to be a good vaccine. Covid-19 is very dangerous, even for younger people, and the risk of contracting Covid-19 and dying is in any case greater than the risk of side effects for the affected population. But sinus vein thrombosis, while rare, is clearly more common after vaccination with AstraZeneca than in the average population and should be taken seriously. This is especially true for younger people. They can be treated, but they are life-threatening. It is good that the EMA has now finally recognized the link between the rare cerebral venous thrombosis and the vaccine. From the point of view of many experts and also from my personal point of view, this was overdue. The side effects are rare, but that the accumulation is a coincidence is simply very unlikely. The experts in several member states have acted faster and more consequently here. Today's decision of the EMA is unsatisfactory because there is no clear link yet between specific risk factors or the age. Based on the available information, I believe that the practice in some other member states, meaning to offer a different vaccination to younger people, is correct. Firstly, the cases occur in larger numbers in those age groups, and secondly, the risk of dying from Covid-19 is lower for younger people compared to those over 60. Despite all the criticism of the vaccine supply in Europe, we can consider ourselves lucky to have alternatives.



Even if it is difficult to understand, we should always keep in mind that the side effects that have now occurred, have nothing to do with the initial recommendation in some countries not to use the AstraZeneca vaccine for people over 65. The question of the elderly was not about side effects, but about whether there are sufficient data on the protective effect, what is extremely important especially in the case of the elderly. These data have been available for weeks now and that is why it is right to use the AstraZeneca vaccine for people over 65. We must continue to be very vigilant and anyone who still has a headache for four or five days after vaccination or has a severe headache for the first time five days after a vaccination, regardless of the vaccine used, should consult their doctor immediately. I also recommend that everyone should be given the opportunity to have an antibody test before a vaccination. People who have antibodies, are about as protected as vaccinated people and can also benefit from the European Green Certificate. In addition, it cannot be ruled out that people who have had the disease, are more likely to have side effects. Therefore, there are two reasons to offer an antibody test, as far as possible, and then not to vaccinate people tested positive for antibodies at first, but to vaccinate them in autumn with an adapted vaccine that then also protects better against the mutated viruses."