Spain increases AstraZeneca dose gap to 16 weeks as it diverges from EU regulator advice

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.

An employee looks at the installation "The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended Into the Heavens" by Yayoi Kusama in Berlin, Germany. The exhibition is temporarily closed to the general public due to increased coronavirus restrictions. Getty Images

German Health Minister Jens Spahn visits the Allergopharma plant in Reinbek near Hamburg, northern Germany. The company has started production of Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine. AFP

A nurse takes care of a Covid-19 patient in the intensive care unit of the community hospital in Magdeburg, eastern Germany. AFP

Pupils of the High School Buergerwiese sit at socially distanced tables in the school's sport hall while taking exams in Dresden, Germany. AP Photo

Customers queue for access to a JD Sports store in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Shops and outdoor seating at restaurants and cafes have partially reopened. Bloomberg

A Bullfighting School pupil practises at Las Ventas bullring in Madrid, Spain. AFP

Staff disinfects a theater as the Ambrosio multiplex cinema as it reopens after a long period of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, in Turin, Italy. EPA

Police officers make a routine check in restaurants to verify compliance with Covid-19 measures in Vincennes, near Paris, France. Reuters

A woman, wearing a protective face mask, walks past a closed restaurant in Paris, France. Reuters

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.

More on AstraZeneca

EU launches legal action against AstraZeneca over vaccine delays

Saudi Arabia denies reports of blood clots from AstraZeneca vaccine

One in a million: the truth about blood clots and Covid-19 vaccines

Greatest of All Time

Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan

Director: Venkat Prabhu

Rating: 2/5

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index

Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.

The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.

“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.

“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”

Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.

Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.

“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.