France reverses stance on AstraZeneca vaccine
The French government says the elderly with pre-existing conditions can now get AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, revising its stance on the problem.
"People affected by co-morbidities can be vaccinated with AstraZeneca, including those aged between 65 and 74," medical minister said.
Previous month France approved use of the vaccine for under-65s only, citing lack of data for the elderly.
Since that time studies have shown the jab is impressive among the elderly.
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is widely used over the UK, but several EU countries remain limiting it to the under-65s, including Germany.
The EU drugs regulator has approved it for all those adults, but it is up to each member to set its own rollout policy.
Speaking on France 2 television set late on Mon, People from france Health Minister Olivier Véran said people who have pre-existing conditions could get the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from GP surgeries, hospitals and "within days" from pharmacies.
Those aged over 75 it's still offered either Pfizer or Moderna jabs in a vaccination center, he added.
In January French President Emmanuel Macron said the AstraZeneca vaccine was "quasi-ineffective" for older age ranges - a claim strongly rejected at that time by the UK officials and scientists.
But as more data has emerged, French health officials have tried to convince individuals who it is just as effective and safe as other Covid-19 vaccine, AFP information agency reports.
Just 273,000 AstraZeneca dosages have been administered in France out of just one 1.7m received by the finish of February, health ministry figures show.
Vaccine roll-outs in many European union countries have been reach by delays. About 3m folks have up to now received at least one dose in France - against more than 20m in the UK, which includes about the same population.
