'Oxford vaccine' to be given immediately to key public service workers, but only to the under-55s

SPAIN'S government has confirmed the AstraZeneca or 'Oxford' vaccine will be administered to residents aged 18 to 55 inclusive and, once it arrives in the country, work will start immediately on immunising public service staff.

Firstly, the police, Guardia Civil, the military, firefighters and teachers from nursery school to high school will be vaccinated, and this will start straight away, leading to a two-tier immunisation programme.

Health and care workers who are not considered 'front-line staff' will be included in this group – physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists and pharmacy office employees, forensic and post-mortem specialists, home help service providers, and workers at children's homes, prisons and day centres – as long as they are aged under 55.

Those aged over 55 will be given the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna jabs.

Now nearly all care home staff and residents and front-line healthcare workers – including cleaners and canteen staff – have had both doses of the vaccine, regional health authorities are gradually starting on those who need 24-hour or at least constant care and do not live in sheltered accommodation, a group classified as 'major dependants', and on the 80-plus age group.

Not all regions are moving at the same speed, depending upon their resources, but the 80-and-over community is expected to have all been given dates for vaccines by around the end of this month or beginning of March. 

In view of the lack of data to support the efficacy of the AstraZeneca jab in those over 65, Spain has opted to cap the age group it is given to at 55, as a precaution.

This is because the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines use RNA-messenger technology, working directly on the human immune system, whilst the AstraZeneca is a 'classic' inoculation which contains inactive viral particles to stimulate the immune response into fighting these specific virii – a strategy that has not proven to be highly effective in those approaching middle age through to the elderly. 

National and regional health authorities are currently studying reports from experts who have recommended that the 70-79 age group be vaccinated after the over-80s on the basis that these should be considered high-risk or very-high risk persons.

The reports claim that age is the factor that most influences whether Covid contagion leads to serious illness or death, more so than many chronic physical health conditions – those aged between 70 and 80 are more likely to end up critical or worse if they catch it than a much younger adult with, for example, diabetes.

Experts who have presented their recommendations have also advised that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines be given straight away to 'major dependants'.