The benefits of Astra Zeneca's vaccine outweigh the risks.

This was announced recently by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

However, it has not been possible to rule out certain rare cases of serious side effects associated with the vaccine.

According to the EMA and the Swedish Medicines Agency, however, the rare side effects have only been reported in people under 65 years of age.

Vaccination continues for those over 65

This is the reason why the Swedish Public Health Agency is now deciding to recommend that the country's regions continue to pause the use of Astra Zeneca's vaccine among people under the age of 65 until better data are available.

For those older than 65 years, however, vaccination must be resumed.

- The vaccine is very useful for the elderly, many become seriously ill in covid-19 every day.

At the same time, we have not seen a risk of these rare and serious side effects in the elderly.

That is the reason why we are lifting the break for people over the age of 65, says Johan Carlson, Director General of the Swedish Public Health Agency, in a press release.

Protects against serious illness

Anders Tegnell commented on the decision at Thursday's press conference with the authority:

- There have been major studies from both the UK and the US that show that this protects very well against serious illness.

He continued:

- We want to emphasize once again how important it is that we really prioritize the elderly because that is where the risk is greatest for serious illness and death.

In the increased spread of infection, there is a great risk that we can see high death rates if we can not quickly protect this group in the population.

"About 20 cases out of 20 million vaccinated"

Ulla Wändel Liminga, scientific leader at the Medical Products Agency, says this about the side effects.

- These are rare cases, it is about 20 out of 20 million vaccinated.

In the cases we have examined, it was mainly younger and this is rather a sign that, if this is linked to the vaccine, the risk is probably lower in those who are older.

She continues:

- The protective effect and the disease are so much more serious that there is a very positive risk balance in that group.