France’s health regulator on Friday green lit the resuming of administration of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the country, albeit, recommending the jab only for
people aged 55 and above, AFP reported. This comes after France temporarily suspended
the use of AstraZeneca drug following the reports of blood clots linked with
the jab.

Also Read: AstraZeneca vaccine ‘not associated’ with higher blood clot risk: EU regulators

Dominique
Le Guludec, head of the French HAS health regulator, said such thromboembolic cases in those
who had received the vaccine were “very rare” but also
“serious and thus, those under 55 should get Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson until full information on the related risk arrives.

The agency further added that the basis of the recommendation is the observation that the reported blood clots,
which led to the vaccine’s blockage in France and other European countries,
had been seen only in recipients aged under 55.

Also Read: WHO recommends AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine amid blood clot concerns

Addressing the blood clot issue, Guludec said Europe identified 25 such blood clot cases as of March 16, resulting in nine deaths among those below 55, majority of whom are women.

In France, out of 1.4 million AstraZeneca doses administered, cases were seen in a 51-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, she said.

Also Read | Prince Charles slams those opposing COVID-19 vaccination

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) executive director, Emer Cooke on Thursday said during the AstraZeneca investigation , the agency found “a small number of cases of rare and unusual but very serious clotting disorder.”

He further said that unless the complete data is available on the issue, the agency cannot rule out the possibility definitely.

The
EMA had also recommended adding a warning to product information with the
AstraZeneca shot.

Meanwhile, French Prime
Minister Jean Castex, 55, is due for his vaccine shot on Friday in a bid to bolster confidence after the European medicine watchdog
ruled it was safe to use.