The Netherlands has become the latest European country to limit AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine to people aged under 65, despite the EU approving it for all ages.

France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and other countries have so far put age limits on the vaccine, which was developed by the British-Swedish firm with Oxford University, according to AFP.

“Because the immune system starts to function less well with increasing age, the council considers the vaccine suitable for people up to the age of 65,” the Dutch Health Council said in a statement.

The council added that it “recommends that the first available doses of the vaccine from AstraZeneca be used in elderly people aged 60 to 65 years”.