Spain's Ministry of Health is holding a virtual meeting with the autonomous regions this Monday (22 March) to debate whether to extend vaccinations with the AstraZeneca formula to those over 55 years of age.

Up for discussion is a report from the Ministry of Health that proposes that doses of the vaccine can also be administered in the 55 to 65 age group, a recommendation that is in line with countries such as France.

At the moment Spain only gives the AstraZeneca vaccine to those under 55 belonging to the essential worker groups, including police, teachers and firefighters.

The AstraZeneca vaccine has been the subject of controversy in recent weeks after thrombi and blood clotting issues were reported in around thirty European Union citizens who had been given the formula.

After three days of analysis, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued a verdict last Thursday supporting vaccination with AstraZeneca because the "benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the risks" butalso acknowledged that it could not be totally ruled out that the issues had some kind of link with the formula.

The EMA's decision encouraged France, Germany and Italy to resume vaccinations with AstraZeneca on Friday.

This Monday, the biotechnology firm defended its vaccine, which it says has an efficacy of 79 per cent in preventing the disease and does not increase the risk of blood clots.

The company also claims the vaccine is 80 per cent effective for those over 65, according to a study with more than 32,000 volunteers from Chile, Peru and the United States carried out by the company. About 20 per cent of the participants were 65 or older, and about 60 per cent had health problems with a high risk of severe Covid-19, such as diabetes, obesity or heart disease.