After the death of a young woman from side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the debate in Italy about how to deal with the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company's vaccine has flared up again.

The eighteen-year-old had the first dose of Vaxzevria administered on May 25 as part of an “Open Day” organized by the north-western Italian region of Liguria with the possibility of vaccination for all age groups.

On June 3, she first complained of headaches and extreme sensitivity to light.

On June 5, she was taken to Genoa hospital.

Two operations to remove the thrombosis in the brain and to reduce the pressure in the brain were unsuccessful.

The woman died on Thursday evening.

Matthias Rüb

Political correspondent for Italy, the Vatican, Albania and Malta based in Rome.

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    The public prosecutor in Genoa is investigating four deaths due to suspected side effects of vaccines.

    On Tuesday, another woman was taken to a Genoese hospital because of severe side effects after a Vaxzevria vaccination and also had to undergo emergency surgery.

    The 34-year-old woman continues to receive intensive care.

    Meanwhile, the Rome government's Scientific and Technical Advisory Council is discussing a possible change in guidelines for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

    It is being considered that in the future it will only be recommended for people over 60 years of age.

    However, since the vaccine has been approved by the European and Italian Medicines Authorities for use by everyone over the age of 18, the government has no action against the "Open Days" organized by the regions.

    In the meantime, the region of Sicily has decided to only give AstraZeneca's vaccine to people over the age of 60 during “Open Days”. Younger people who have been partially immunized with a first dose of AstraZeneca should receive the vaccines from Pfizer or Moderna for the second vaccination. State Secretary in the Ministry of Health Pierpaolo Sileri said Vaxzevria should no longer be given to people under the age of 30. “I would especially not recommend AstraZeneca to women under 50. All the more so since the number of infections and the incidence have fallen sharply. "