Although Lithuania is limiting the use of AstraZeneca shots to people under 55, an expert panel advising the government argues the vaccine offers enough protection to older recipients as well.
According to Ligita Jančorienė, head of the Centre for Infectious Diseases at Santaros Clinics, the results of clinical trials show that the AstraZeneca vaccine generates similar immune responses across all adult age groups and provides 100-percent protection against severe disease, hospitalisation, and death.
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The panel also notes that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved AstraZeneca's vaccine for use in people aged 18 years and over.
“In view of these results and the importance of vaccinating older people at the highest risk in order to reduce Covid-19 mortality, the Council of Experts expressed the view that the AstraZeneca vaccine should be administered to people (...), including those over 65 years of age,” the government's press office said in a press release on Tuesday.
Lithuania's Health Minister Arūnas Dulkys has decided that the first delivery of the AstraZeneca shots, which reached the country last week, will be used to vaccinate teachers under 55.
He has yet to decide whether AstraZeneza shots from future deliveries can be given to older people.
In late January, the EMA authorized AstraZeneca's vaccine for use in adult citizens of EU member countries. The agency said, however, that “there are not yet enough results in older participants (over 55 years old) to provide a figure for how well the vaccine will work in this group”.
The Lithuanian panel also suggests that the second vaccine dose should be administered 12 weeks after the first shot.
According to the statement, 77 percent of healthcare workers and 72 percent of residents and staff in care homes have Covid-19 immunity or have been vaccinated at least once.
Read more: Mass vaccination in Lithuania to start in July
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