Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is recommending a pause on AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccinations for people under 55 due to safety concerns.
Provinces are being advised to stop giving the vaccine to anyone under that age group, following concerns it may be linked to rare blood clots (VIPIT).
VIPIT is vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia (VIPIT), a rare blood clotting disorder.
Symptoms include serious headache, seizure, blurred vision and shortness of breath and tend to develop between four and 16 days after receiving the vaccine.
The province says the decision was made in conjunction with the Public Health Agency of Canada as well as provincial and federal vaccine advisory committees.
The NACI said that adults 55 years of age and older may still be offered the AstraZeneca vaccine with informed consent, given the increased risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19 disease in this population.
Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliot received her first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Toronto on Monday morning.
Canada is expecting to receive 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine today from the United States.
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Today I received my first dose of the #COVID19Vaccine. I encourage everyone to book an appointment as soon as it's your turn. Until Ontario receives enough supply so that everyone who wants a vaccine can receive one, please continue following public health advice. pic.twitter.com/YV9o5AXI0z
— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) March 29, 2021
LIVE: Officials from the Government of Canada and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization hold a technical briefing for media on the Astra-Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine https://t.co/os582qisUZ
— Health Canada and PHAC (@GovCanHealth) March 29, 2021
Following new NACI guidelines, Dr. Howard Njoo announces that Canada is pausing the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to adults under age 55 “pending further risks-benefits analysis." The vaccine remains available for people 55+.#COVID19 | #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/x5P2jFeZzx
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) March 29, 2021