Epidemiologists are hosing down concerns over the efficacy of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine in the elderly despite a move in Germany not to recommend it for this age group.

The German vaccine committee on Thursday issued a draft advisory that the vaccine should be endorsed only for people aged 18-64, sparking global concern — including in Australia where GPs are being invited to deliver it once approved by the TGA.

The concerns were partly fuelled by widespread European media reports that misinterpreted trial data and suggested the vaccine might have an efficacy of less than 10% in the elderly, an Australian epidemiologist says.

Associate Professor Hassan Vally, from LaTrobe University in Melbourne said the claim made no sense biologically and did not tally with published data.