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Canada Halts AstraZeneca Shots for Under 55 on Clot Concerns

Europe evidence of rare side effect prompts vaccine pause
With cases rising, B.C. also shuts restaurants, gyms, churches

A healthcare worker administers a Covid-19 vaccine at a Vancouver clinic on March 4. — A healthcare worker administers a Covid-19 vaccine at a Vancouver clinic on March 4.
Photographer: Jennifer Gauthier/Bloomberg

By

Kait Bolongaro,

Danielle Bochove, and

Theophilos Argitis

March 29, 2021, 6:17 PM UTCUpdated onMarch 30, 2021, 12:32 AM UTC

Health officials in Canada are suspending plans to give AstraZeneca Plc’s Covid-19 vaccine to younger people over concerns it could lead to blood clots in rare circumstances.

Provincial health authorities, including those in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta, halted the AstraZeneca shots after the nation’s vaccine advisory committee recommended a pause on administering it to people under 55 years old.