AstraZeneca: For younger people only on request

Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.

More posts by Christiane Fux All content is checked by medical journalists.

New fuss about the AstraZeneca vaccine: While this was initially only approved for younger people, and later for all ages, it is now only recommended by the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) for people over 60. At least for now.

Reason for the renewed turn are further cases of rare cerebral vein thrombosis. In 19 cases, a lack of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia) was reported, and nine affected people died, reported the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI).

If you are not afraid, you can still get vaccinated

The vaccine is not completely denied to younger people. The decision of the STIKO states that the use of the vaccine "below this age limit (of 60, editor's note) remains possible at the medical discretion and with individual risk acceptance after careful explanation". This means that if you are younger and want to have the vaccine, you can still get it after weighing up the individual risks with your doctor.

Risk of 1: 100,000

Vaccinating him against the STIKO recommendation can be a sensible decision: the risk of suffering such a cerebral vein thrombosis is very low. 31 cases of so-called sinus vein thrombosis have become known in Germany. On the other hand, according to the Robert Koch Institute, there are 2.7 million first doses and 767 second doses from AstraZeneca, which were inoculated up to and including Monday. The risk of a cerebral vein thrombosis after the AstraZenenca vaccination is therefore around 1: 100,000.

In addition, Greifswald scientists have already found out why such sinus vein thromboses can develop in individual cases after vaccination and - even more important! - how you can then treat it (read in the article AstraZeneca: Cause of brain thrombosis clarified).

Young women more often affected - but also very rarely

Suspending vaccination for younger people - especially younger women - is still a good idea. Because they were by far the most frequently affected by the incidents: Of the 31 reports of sinus vein thrombosis, 29 were women between the ages of 20 and 63. The two men affected were 36 and 57 years old.

However, it must be taken into account that two thirds of those vaccinated with this vaccine belonged to the medical and nursing staff - and these are predominantly female and younger to middle-aged. According to this, the probability that this group in particular was hit disproportionately often was disproportionately higher in relation to older people and men.

It is possible to switch to alternatives

Since alternative vaccines are available for which such incidents have not yet been observed, it makes sense that these should be used if possible.

How the vaccination will continue for younger people who have already received a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine is still open. The experts are currently examining whether a second vaccination is also possible with an mRNA vaccine. The STIKO wants to comment on this by the end of April.

Tags:  eyes travel medicine alternative medicine