All under-40s are to be offered an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine as a precaution.

The advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation marks an extension to existing guidance where those aged under 30 were given a choice of COVID-19 jab over blood clotting concerns.

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Previously, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had said the balance of risk for the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID is very favourable for older people but “more finely balanced” for younger groups, who do not tend to suffer serious coronavirus illness.

Latest data from MHRA, shows there have been 242 blood clots in combination with low platelets in more than 28 million people who had the AstraZeneca vaccine up to the 28 April.

For people in their 40s, 10.1 in every million had a clot.

But those aged between 30 and 39 had a risk of 17.4 in every million.

The JCVI said an alternative jab should only be given where it does not cause a major delay in immunisation.

Although cases of COVID are currently low, modelling suggests a significant delay to the vaccine rollout would make a third wave more likely.

It added the AstraZeneca jab is the only one of the three licensed vaccines that can be distributed at fridge temperature, which may mean that in some circumstances it is the only practical dose to offer.

People who have already had one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine with no relevant side effects will also be offered it second time around.

Regulators have said the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine continue to “outweigh the risks for the vast majority of adults”.

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