…be used in adults under age 55 years due to concerns about a rare clotting complication (www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization/national-advisory-committee-on-immunization-naci/rapid-response-recommended-use-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-younger-adults.html). Individuals aged >55 years can still receive the vaccine. NACI previously recommended that the vaccine not be used in individuals aged >65 years due to a lack of evidence. The mo…

…Summary of epidemiology, testing and mortality rate; Canada and world statistics. Download COVID-19 slide deck…

…it plans to release the results from its primary analysis later this week (www.astrazeneca.com/content/astraz/media-centre/press-releases/2021/update-following-statement-by-niaid-on-azd1222-us-phase-iii-trial-data.html). A further issue that has plagued the AstraZeneca vaccine is the link to rare thrombotic complications. To date, the European Medicines Agency has recorded 18 cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) in approximately 20 mil…

…r pro-coagulant effects on platelets (Bollmann A. Br Med J, 16 March 2021. www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n699/rapid-responses). At present, it is not known if thrombocytopenia/thromboembolism is associated with COVID-19 vaccination, or if the incidence of these complications is uniquely higher with the AstraZeneca vaccine. It also remains to be determined if pre-existing thrombocytopenia, as seen in some treated multiple sclerosis patients, increase…