The Same Data: Different Conclusions

It is somewhat disconcerting that Germany's Robert Koch Institute is not advising the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on people over 65 (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/28/germany-recommends-oxford-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-not-used-over-65s). The Koch Institute have decided that there is insufficient data on older patients. They do regard this vaccine, as being wholly appropriate for people under 64. This is, of course, completely at variance with the UK, who actually started their mass vaccination programme with the over-80s (because they are an especially vulnerable group). If the Germans stick to the Koch Institute recommendation, the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine will not be used in care homes for the elderly (although these people as particularly at risk, when contracting a Covid-19 infection). It will be interesting to see if the German view changes with a) the accumulating UK data on the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in older age groups or b) the imminent recommendation of the European Medicines Agency, which advises the entire EU and must be using the same data given to the German Institute. It just confirms that interpretation of the same body of data can lead to different conclusions.