The Institute of Public Health (ISP) recommended as a precautionary measure that the AstraZeneca vaccine be administered to women over 55 years of age and to men over 18 years of age, after the cases of linked to thrombosis detected in Europe and other parts of the world.
“It is important to emphasize that the rate of notification of events related to thrombosis, temporary to the administration of the vaccine, is very low (86 cases in 25 million vaccinated as of March 22),” warns the ISP in a statement.
According to the institution, the recommendation is in accordance with the conclusions of the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee of the European Medicines Agency, an entity that reviewed the data on thrombosis cases. Most of these reports were in women under 55 years of age.
From the ISP, they indicated that they will continue to “analyze the research that is being carried out worldwide, to clarify whether there is a history that links the AstraZeneca vaccine with thrombosis associated with thrombocytopenia (decreased blood platelet count)”. A reaction that has been seen in less than 1% of patients treated with heparin.
Regarding the benefit / risk balance of this vaccine, the ISP, like the European Medicines Agency (EMA), reaffirms that it continues to be positive, since there is a greater benefit of the vaccine in preventing transmission and in reducing the risk of hospitalization and death caused by coronavirus disease, than to suffer a thrombosis associated with thrombocytopenia.
“Studies carried out so far in Europe show that the number of cases of thrombosis that have been reported after vaccination, in relation to vaccinated people, is lower than the number of these events that occur in the general population, so The administration of this vaccine is not considered to be associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events. In the case of Chile there are no reports to date of these events in the Phase 3 Clinical Studies of this vaccine “, indicates Heriberto García, director (S) of the ISP.
“We urge the population to be vaccinated with complete peace of mind and safety when appropriate. The ISP is closely monitoring the safety of all vaccines that have been licensed for use in the country. Getting vaccinated and respecting health measures are the most effective tools to prevent covid-19 disease ″, the statement ends.
It is important to remember that the AstraZeneca vaccine, to combat covid-19, was approved for use in Chile. Although it has not yet been applied to the population.
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