JAKARTA - The German Vaccine Commission stated that AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine should not be given to elderly who are over 65 years old. This statement was issued amid a heated dispute between the European Union and vaccine manufacturers over the delay in vaccine supplies.
The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at Germany's Robert Koch Institute (RKI) found there was not enough data on the effectiveness of the vaccine that is developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford for this age group according to a statement from the Ministry of Interior on Thursday local time.
"Due to the small number of study participants in the ≥65 year age group, no conclusions can be made regarding efficacy and safety for the elderly. Therefore, this vaccine is currently recommended by STIKO only for people 18-64 years old", wrote the committee in its recommendations cited from CNN.
Responding to the announcement, AstraZeneca's spokesperson said that the company is awaiting regulatory decisions from the European Union's drug regulator. In recent clinical trial data, it has been said that to support efficacy in the age group over 65 years.
In the UK, local authorities have given the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for seniors over 65 years since last month. The UK Drug and Medical Devices Regulator (MHRA) said the evidence to date does not show a lack of protection against COVID-19 for seniors 65 and older.
"The data we have show that the vaccine produces a strong immune response beyond the age of 65. More data continues to be available for this age group and our Public Assessment Report, it is available on our website and will be updated to reflect this", said the MHRA Chief Executive, Dr. June Raine
Separately, the Chief Executive of AstraZeneca Pascal Soriot admits that the success data for the elderly aged 65 years and over are limited. Because the Oxford scientists who are running the vaccine trials didn't want to recruit older people until they gather a lot of safety data for those aged 18 to 55.
"Basically, because Oxford started vaccinating seniors recently, we don't have a large number of seniors who have been vaccinated. So that's the debate", he said.
"But we have strong data showing the production of very strong antibodies to the virus in the elderly, similar to what we saw in younger people. It is possible that some countries, with caution, will use our vaccine for younger cohorts", he added.
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