UK to offer under-40s alternative to AstraZeneca vaccine

Precautionary move reflects low levels of COVID-19 in the UK and the availability of other vaccines, experts say.

The United Kingdom will offer adults under the age of 40 an alternative to AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 shot following a recommendation on Friday from its panel of vaccine advisors. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said on Friday its new advice, which was issued amid persistent fears the vaccine may cause rare blood clots in a small minority of recipients, reflected low levels of COVID-19 infection in the UK and the availability of other jabs made by Pfizer and Moderna. Previously, JCVI’s advice was only for people under 30 to be offered an alternative vaccine.