Germany to restrict use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine - Merkel

FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Angela Merkel gives a statement after video conference of EU leaders at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, March 25, 2021. Michael Kappeler/Pool via REUTERS

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany will restrict the use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to people aged 60 and over and high-priority groups, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday.

The move, agreed with the 16 federal states, follows the recommendation of the independent vaccine committee and comes in response to new reports of a rare brain blood disorder and could turn out as a severe setback to the country's vaccination campaign. [L8N2LS2ZG]

"Everything is based on one principle and that is trust," Merkel said at a news conference. "Confidence arises from the knowledge that every suspicion is counted in every individual case."

(Reporting by Paul Carrel; Writing by Kirsti Knolle; Editing by Maria Sheahan)