JCVI advises on COVID-19 vaccine for people aged under 40

Taking into account the latest evidence, the JCVI has advised a preference for adults aged 30-39 without underlying health conditions to receive an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine – where available and only if it doesn’t cause substantial delays in being vaccinated.

SPS commentary:

This announcement follows the previous decision to offer a preference for adults aged under 30 years. Up to April 28th, the MHRA had received 242 reports of thromboembolic events with concurrent thrombocytopenia following the use of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, with an overall case incidence of 10.5 per million doses.

The JCVI reiterates that the Covid-19 vaccines are highly effective and have been shown to substantially reduce the risk of death, severe disease and transmission of infection. Adverse events following the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine are extremely rare and, for the vast majority of people, the benefits of preventing serious illness and death far outweigh any risks.

Everyone who has had a first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine should receive a second dose of the same vaccine, irrespective of age, with the exception of those who experienced thromboembolic events with concurrent thrombocytopenia after their first vaccination.

Public Health England