In agreement with the medical management of the vaccination centre in Marmagen, the district of Euskirchen has decided that with immediate effect the Astrazeneca vaccine will no longer be vaccinated to women in the age group below 55. After a vaccinated woman (47) had died last week, the district had now been notified of a suspected "serious illness" of a 28-year-old woman after vaccination with Astrazeneca. Both had suffered sinus vein thrombosis, according to the district.

The decision to no longer vaccinate women under 55 with Astrazeneca was a precautionary measure, the district of Euskirchen explained on Monday. The district government and the NRW Ministry of Health have been informed about the new situation.

Previously, queries to the higher authorities had been answered with the statement that the Paul Ehrlich Institute was "conscientiously examining the events, but a final statement could not be made", the district said. District Administrator Markus Ramers (SPD) had telephoned NRW Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU) and his State Secretary, "who are personally committed to a prompt, final clarification by the experts."

After the death of the 47-year-old woman, the district of Euskirchen had reported the case to the Paul Ehrlich Institute to have a possible connection with the woman's Corona vaccination investigated. The Paul Ehrlich Institute did not provide any further information on the specific case when asked by dpa on Monday.

According to the district, the death of the woman had been reported to the health department last Friday by the doctor in charge of the regional vaccination centre, who had received the information from the clinic treating her. The new case was also reported by the doctor "after he had received the relevant information from the clinic treating the patient. The 28-year-old patient is in a stable condition and is being treated in a special clinic, the district said in a statement.

"Since it cannot currently be ruled out that there are facts that speak against a cross-age and cross-sex vaccination "COVID-19 Vaccine Astrazeneca", the crisis team of the district of Euskirchen has decided to suspend vaccination with this vaccine in women under 55," the district said. This decision was taken by the crisis team after expert advice from the head of the public health department and the chief vaccinator.

The vaccinations with Astrazeneca for men as well as for women over 55 will continue as planned, as will the vaccinations with the Biontech vaccine.