Adults below the age of 40 years should not get the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine pending safety data for this age group, the federal health ministry has said. It added that the vaccine is not recommended for people under the age of 18 for now. Following are the ministry's updated interim guidelines for the AstraZeneca shot:

Who should receive the vaccine

• All adults over the age of 40 years
• Eligible adults with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and other stable chronic disorders
• Those with mild Covid-19 can receive the vaccine once the isolation period is complete
• Those with severe Covid-19 can receive the vaccine once they become stable
• Those chronically immunosuppressed may receive the vaccine, though efficacy may be lower

Who should NOT receive the vaccine

• Adults below 40 years of age (pending safety data)
• People with a history of severe allergic reaction to any component (e.g polysorbate) of the vaccine formulation
• The vaccine is not recommended for people younger than 18 years of age pending the results of further studies
• People who developed clotting disorder with the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine
• Individuals running a fever at the time of coming for vaccination (can be rescheduled after the illness is settled)
• Individuals on short-term immunosuppressive medication should wait for 28 days after the medication ends
• Those with active GI bleeding disorder or seizures
• Those with a history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (HITT or HIT type 2)
• Those with a history of major blood clot occurring at the same time as having low levels of platelets after receiving any Covid-19 vaccine