Spain is extending the gap between the first and second doses of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine to 16 weeks for people aged under 60, the government said on Friday.
The country is the first to promote "off-label use" and to diverge from the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) usage authorisation.
The move is not approved by the regulator and it would make Spain responsible for any possible side effects.
The country initially gave AstraZeneca shots to essential workers aged 18 to 65 before allowing only those over the age of 60 to received the vaccine due to concerns about blood clots in younger people.
The EMA's approval for the vaccine is based on the second dose being administered between four and 12 weeks after the first. A 16-week interval has not been tested in any human trials.
AstraZeneca and the EMA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Spain's move to restrict use of the shot caused widespread uncertainty and meant some younger people who had already received a first dose were unable to receive a second.
By extending the interval between doses, authorities will be able to evaluate the results of mixing different vaccines before deciding whether those groups will receive a second AstraZeneca shot or another drug, the ministry said.
Spain's state-backed Carlos III Health Institute is currently investigating the effects of giving the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to patients who have already received an AstraZeneca shot.
The country's two-week coronavirus contagion rate fell slightly on Friday to 229 cases per 100,000 people, compared with 230 on Thursday, according to health ministry data.
The cumulative number of cases rose to 3,524,077, while the death toll rose to 78,216.
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One in a million: the truth about blood clots and Covid-19 vaccines
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
Key Points
- Protests against President Omar Al Bashir enter their sixth day
- Reports of President Bashir's resignation and arrests of senior government officials
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
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Opening day UAE Premiership fixtures, Friday, September 22:
- Dubai Sports City Eagles v Dubai Exiles
- Dubai Hurricanes v Abu Dhabi Saracens
- Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
