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Magdeburg (dpa / sa) - In Saxony-Anhalt's vaccination centers, only over 60-year-olds have been vaccinated with the Astrazeneca corona vaccine since Wednesday.
The centers were informed about this on Tuesday evening, said a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health on Wednesday.
Health Minister Petra Grimm-Benne (SPD) emphasized that the preparation would still help in the fight against the virus.
"Astrazeneca is a highly effective vaccine, especially for the elderly," said the minister on Wednesday.
The basis for the decision of the federal and state health ministers to vaccinate Astrazenece only to people over 60 years of age was a recommendation of the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko), which is based on currently available data on the occurrence of "rare but very severe thromboembolic side effects".
These occurred 4 to 16 days after the vaccination predominantly in people under the age of 60.
In Germany, 31 cases of such blood clots after vaccinations with Astrazeneca are known to date, as reported by the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI).
Whether vaccination appointments have to be canceled because of the new requirements depends on the stocks of other vaccines in the centers, said the spokeswoman.
The state government does not have a precise overview of which centers store which quantities of which vaccine, as it only records the quantities delivered to the centers and how many people are vaccinated there, but not with which vaccine.
When the use of the preparation for over 65-year-olds was initially suspended at the beginning of March, many vaccination centers could have maintained the appointments with other vaccines.
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What has not yet been finally clarified is how to deal with under 60-year-olds who have already received their first vaccination with Astrazeneca.
You can also get your second vaccination with the substance voluntarily, said the spokeswoman.
For people who do not want this, the federal government should work out recommendations in the coming days.
The country is expecting a recommendation as to whether the second vaccination is also possible with another substance.
Alternatively, those affected could get a completely new vaccination offer.
Since the second vaccination is only due after six weeks, those affected are protected until at least May.
Even younger people in Saxony-Anhalt can still be vaccinated with Astrazeneca if it is their turn according to the vaccination plan and a family doctor has given the green light in a previous consultation.
This is not possible in the vaccination centers, said the spokeswoman.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210331-99-39252 / 6