This may be a death knell for the AZ vaccine, in Europe and the US anyway:
Germany suspends use of AstraZeneca’s Covid shot for the under-60s, dealing another blow to drugmaker
Germany has suspended use of the coronavirus vaccine created by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford in the under-60s, due to renewed concerns over reports of blood clots.
The move comes after the country’s medicines regulator found 31 cases of a rare type of blood clot in a small number of people immunized with the coronavirus vaccine produced by the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker. The suspension is likely to deal yet another blow to its vaccine’s reputation.
It seems like only yesterday the Euro regulators were only allowing the AZ vaccine for the under-65 crowd, saying the data for oldsters was too sparse. But that was late January!
Well. No one will blame these bureaucrats if thousands die of COVID and this action may even prevent a few dozen deaths from a weird clotting disease. Weird the Brits aren't seeing it in there much larger vaccinated population, but do we trust them to tell the truth?
As to the US, AZ is preparing their trial data but has not yet applied for an EUA. As I understand it, the US vaccine supply situation is already in good shape between Pfizer, Moderna and J&J. We bet on a lot of horses, a lot have crossed the line, and we may not need the AZ product (which people won't take anyway.) And Novavax is lurking in the wings!
For the rest of the world, this is a blow. AZ used refrigerator storage, which made distribution easier in less developed countries.
BONUS SPECULATION: My understanding is that if the US approves an EUA for the AZ vaccine they are contractually obliged to deliver (and the US to pay for) 300MM doses. Or that may be a US option to buy, and we could decline.
I suppose we could buy them and donate them to the global organization, COVAX. Or we could quietly suggest to AZ that a US rejection of their EUA is likely, so just hold off.
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