Germany to approve AstraZeneca vaccine for over-65s

Germany is changing its stance on the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, allowing over-65s to receive the jab, Chancellor Angela Merkel says.

The country previously approved it for under-65s only, citing insufficient data on its effects on older people.

That led to public scepticism about its effectiveness, with some Germans spurning it, leaving many doses unused.

But on Wednesday Mrs Merkel said recent studies had now provided enough data to approve it for all ages.

Various studies have shown the AstraZeneca vaccine is highly effective among the elderly.

Belgium says it will also approve the vaccine for older people, following France earlier this week.

About 5% of Germans have so far received a first vaccine shot.

Mrs Merkel said Germany would also follow the UK example of stretching the interval between vaccine doses, to offer as many people as possible an initial shot.

The EU's medical regulator approved the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for all age groups in January.

But the rollout was met by some public scepticism after regulators in countries including France, Belgium and Italy recommended that it should not be used for people over 65. Like Germany, they citied insufficient data on its efficacy for older people.

In January French President Emmanuel Macron said the jab was "quasi-ineffective" for older age groups – a suggestion strongly refuted by the UK government and British medical regulators.

The debate came amid an acrimonious dispute between AstraZeneca and the EU over vaccine supplies to member states.

Since then, stocks of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab have gone unused in several European countries, slowing vaccination efforts.