AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccines are shown in this November 2020 photo. Controversy continues over the safety of the vaccine for the elderly population, following a recent review from a local advisory board that the vaccine can be administered to people over the age of 65. AFP-Yonhap

By Lee Hyo-jin

Controversy continues here over the safety of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine for the elderly population, with different countries holding varying views on whether the vaccine can be administered to people over the age of 65.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced the results of an initial review conducted by an independent advisory board, which concluded that AstraZeneca vaccines may be administered to people over 65, as no significant side effects were found in that age group.

While Korea is positively reviewing the administration of AstraZeneca's vaccines to elderly people, several countries are raising questions over its efficacy, adjusting age limits for inoculation.

The viral vector vaccine, developed by the British-Swedish drug firm and Oxford University, won approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for use in all age groups, Jan. 21.

But several European countries have recommended against giving the shots to people over 65 years citing a lack of sufficient data to support the safety for that age group.

Currently, four European countries ― Germany, France, Sweden and Austria ― have decided to administer the vaccine only to people younger than 65. Some governments have applied even lower age limits. Poland said it will use the vaccine on people under 60, and Italy and Belgium decided to use it only on those under 55.

Switzerland has withheld approval of the vaccine for all age groups, Wednesday, saying that the data for evaluation available so far was not sufficient for authorization.

Amid mixed reactions from other countries, Korea's drug ministry will hold additional reviews to discuss the use of the vaccine before issuing a final approval.

In the first review session, Monday, the advisory board consisting of eight vaccination experts stated that the efficacy was similar among all age groups above 18, noting that no serious side effects were seen in people aged between 18 and 64, as well as those 65 and older.

In overseas data which the experts reviewed, evaluation on prevention effects was conducted in 660 people aged 65 or older, and safety tests were carried out among 2,109 people of the same age group, with no significant abnormalities found.

Therefore, a majority of experts on the panel concluded that the vaccine can be administered to elderly people, but also noted that final approval should be made based on additional clinical data.

So far, Korea has secured enough doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine for 10 million people, and vaccination is expected to begin later this month following approval from the drug safety ministry.