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Covid-19: Fact-checking Macron's over-65s claim about the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine



On the day the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on 29 January for use for all age groups in the EU, French president
Emmanuel Macron claimed that it was "quasi-ineffective" for people over 65.

He added that "the early results we have are not encouraging for 60 to 65-year-old people concerning AstraZeneca".

But the UK government and British medical regulators strongly disagree.

So what is the evidence on the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine and older people?


Who's doing what?
Following Mr Macron's comments, France's Health Authority made an official recommendation on 2 February that the vaccine should not be used for people over 65.
It said more studies were needed before it was rolled out to older age groups.

Other European countries have taken a similar position: Germany, Austria, Sweden and Poland only recommend it for people under 65, and Italy and Belgium for
those under 55.

Switzerland - not an EU country - has ruled against approving the vaccine for any age group. The Swiss medical regulator said there was not enough data yet
on safety, effectiveness and quality to do so.


What does the evidence show?
Ultimately, the decisions come down to the individual interpretations of available data.

During clinical trials, vaccines are given to thousands of people from different age groups, ethnicities and health conditions.

Others are given a placebo - that's effectively a jab which has no vaccine in it - for comparison.

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