Elderly may still get AstraZeneca vaccine but stocks depleted —FDA, DOH

The use of the AstraZeneca may have been temporarily suspended for people younger than 60, but the elderly may still get the British-Swedish jab once the Philippines’ supply is replenished, health authorities said Friday.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief Eric Domingo said the rare side effect of blood clotting with low platelet count was most common among women under 60.

He explained that individuals above 60 will benefit the most from getting vaccinated against COVID-19 since they are at highest risk for contracting and dying from the respiratory disease.

“They will get the most benefit out of it so hindi natin talaga iniisip na mag-limit ng bakuna sa paggamit sa mga senior citizens (we are not considering limiting the use of vaccines on senior citizens),” Domingo said at a Department of Health (DOH) briefing.

He also said the FDA will come out with updated guidelines on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine next week following the temporary suspension.

AstraZeneca earlier vowed to cooperate with the FDA amid concerns about its vaccine.

Domingo also said the company will start including a label indicating the possibility of a “very rare” side effect.

Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the country has “zero stocks of AstraZeneca” since all 525,600 doses donated by the COVAX Facility have been administered.

The use of the vaccine on people under 60 was paused to inform recipients of the reported side effects, she added.

“Sa ngayon naman, wala pa tayong na-no-note na ganitong (As of now, we have not noted any) blood clotting or other adverse events with regard to the AstraZeneca vaccine,” Vergeire assured.

The Philippines has vaccinated over 922,000 individuals as of April 6, more than 493,000 of whom got the AstraZeneca jab. -MDM, GMA News