Rome – Young people give the sprint to the vaccination campaign, but experts hold back on Open Days, especially those with Astrazeneca inoculations, which would lead to a risk of thrombosis “higher than Covid-19”. The attention on the use of this type of vaccine is particularly high especially after the case of the 18-year-old from Sestri Levante (Genoa), currently very serious and hospitalized in the resuscitation of the San Martino polyclinic in Genoa due to a cavernous sinus thrombosis after she had been vaccinated on May 25 by participating in the open day with Astrazeneca. The girl had undergone a neuroradiology operation to mechanically remove the thrombus and subsequently the neurosurgical team intervened for an operation aimed at relieving the intracranial pressure resulting from the hemorrhage.
“I am very happy with the open days to vaccinate young people, what I do not explain is why not to use Pfizer compared to Astrazeneca, it almost seems that you are using it because you want to finish the doses you have. The data are incontrovertible, in the young population perhaps the game is not worth the candle “. This was emphasized by Valeria Poli, president of the Italian Society of Biophysics and Molecular Biology and one of the signatories of the letter sent by the Luca Coscioni association to the Government and to the Commissioner Son against the administration of the Astrazeneca and J & aJ vaccines to young people, intervened on the broadcast ‘Italy has awakened on Radio Cusano Campus.
“Astrazeneca and J&J vaccines are effective in protecting against severe disease, however they have the characteristic, which they do not share with mrna vaccines, of being able to cause very serious rare events – says Poli -. On Astrazeneca we have more data, from the latest British report it emerges that there have been approximately 2 cases of thrombosis in 100,000 between the ages of 20 and 49 and much fewer cases for the over 50s. The Aifa recommends the administration of these vaccines over 60 years. At a time when the virus circulates so little it makes no sense to subject young people to this risk, who risk very little from Covid “, remarks the scientist.
“Fear is created when there is no clear information. I think that saying ‘we keep Astrazeneca for the over 60s because there the risk-benefit is absolutely in favor of the benefit’ would not have created so much vaccination hesitation on Astrazeneca. Vaccines are not all. equal, it is a question of knowing them in order to use them in the correct way – he adds – Some scientists are perhaps deviating from pure data analysis to meet political needs, such as not creating vaccination hesitancy or not wanting to contradict themselves. they have to expose and talk to the people. “
“The risk of AstraZeneca’s Covid vaccine for women under 50 it is infinitesimal and remains so even now. However, from a purely operational and pragmatic point of view, if we want vaccination to be successful among young people, we use a different product, now that vaccines are available in adequate quantities. So no one talks anymore “. This is the reflection of Massimo Clementi, director of the Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology of the San Raffaele hospital in Milan and professor at the Vita-Salute University.” The vaccination of young people – underlines beraking latest news Salute – is important to break the circulation of the virus, especially with the resumption of activities and schools in September. But let’s do it with other vaccines and not with AstraZeneca, if we have enough, as it seems. “
Clementi reflects on the “AstraDay” aimed at young people, which have ended up at the center of some criticisms even by experts. “They could have been avoided – she admits – Also because, while the European Medicines Agency Ema opened to all ages for adenoviral vector vaccines, the Italian Aifa was slightly more stringent, more prudent, and suggested a preferential use over 60 years. The recommendation is a very weak rationale “. The EMA has also made available a diagram showing how the risk-benefit ratio of the AstraZeneca vaccine is higher with increasing age. Young people “are aware that they do not get sick or get sick with mild symptoms. If they get the vaccine, they do it to defend their frail or elderly family members – reflects the expert -. Increasing their adhesion can be positive, we try to encourage it. We can. to succeed even if, in the face of vaccination, we give more freedom. I am thinking, for example, of the much-discussed discos: I would not believe that a vaccinated person can go to the discotheque in July, especially if outdoors “.
“Aifa’s clear and definitive position is needed on the AstraZeneca vaccine. The ballet of communications and recommendations that have changed the age groups for this vaccine is enough, with enormous communication errors by the Medicines Agency and the Ministry of Health. It did not do well with this Covid vaccine that the British data have always told us that it works great. Now, however, also considering the impact of these errors on Italian public opinion, it is decided from tomorrow whether the AstraZeneca vaccine should no longer be used and tools are being used to make only mRna vaccines “. Matteo Bassetti highlights this at beraking latest news Salute. , director of the Infectious Diseases Clinic of the San Martino hospital in Genoa. “The vaccination strategy focuses on Pfizer, Moderna and then on CureVac. But it must be a political choice – he specifies – The public opinion is angry about the AstraZeneca vaccine, the institutions cannot leave the doctors and the Regions alone to defend them “.