The debate continues: what is the fate of AstraZeneca's controversial vaccine in Canada?
Several Canadian provinces have refused to use AstraZeneca. But not all hold this view.
AstraZeneca's vaccine has been in the news headlines for weeks. The drug was rejected by a number of European countries on the grounds that the vaccine could allegedly provoke thrombosis. Later, Health Canada declares that the AstraZeneca drug is safe, so the country will continue to use it.
However, on Monday, March 29, Canada's National Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended suspending vaccination of people under the age of 55 with AstraZeneca. Cases of vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia (VIPIT), a rare blood clotting disorder, have been reported in vaccinated people in Europe.
NACI is not advising use of the vaccine until these cases have been sufficiently investigated. The recommendation comes weeks after NACI did not advise use of AstraZeneca for people over 65 in early March because of a lack of efficacy data.
"We are taking precautions while Health Canada reviews the risks and benefits of AstraZeneca's drug based on new data," said Dr. Howard Nju, deputy chief medical officer at the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Several Canadian provinces have already followed NACI's recommendations. Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Manitoba have stopped using the vaccine for people under age 55. Prince Edward Island has discontinued use of the drug for the entire population. Public health officials in Nova Scotia said the NACI recommendations will not affect use of the vaccine in the province because it is being given to people 60-64 years old.
Vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia (VIPIT) is associated with the appearance of blood clots, including in the brain, after vaccination. Symptoms include severe headache, seizures, blurred vision and shortness of breath. These usually develop on day 4-16 after vaccination.
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