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Move comes after test data shows the jab offered limited protection against mild and moderate illness caused by the 501Y.V2 variant of the coronavirus.
South Africa has suspended the use of the Oxford / AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine in its vaccination program until a committee of scientists advises on how best to proceed.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize’s announcement on Sunday came after trial data showed the vaccine developed by drug maker AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford offered only limited protection against disease mild and moderate caused by the coronavirus variant 501Y.V2 first identified in South Africa.
The government intended to launch the Oxford / AstraZeneca shot at healthcare workers soon, after receiving one million doses produced by the Serum Institute of India on Monday.
Instead, it will offer vaccines developed by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Pfizer in the coming weeks, while experts reflect on how the AstraZeneca vaccine can be deployed.
“When new information comes to light and viruses change and mutate, decisions have to be made. Perhaps that is why the AstraZeneca vaccine rollout is on hold for now. In the next few weeks, South Africa will receive the J&J and Pfizer vaccine, ”Mkhize said on the Independent Online website.
The University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, which conducted the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine trial, said in a statement on Sunday that the vaccine “provides minimal protection against mild to moderate infection with COVID-19” of the variant. , which is dominant in South Africa. .
But in a full article due for publication on Monday, AstraZeneca said that none of the 2,000 participants near the age of 31 developed severe symptoms. This could mean that it will still have an effect on critical illness, although there is not yet enough data to make a definitive judgment.
The data, which has yet to be peer reviewed, “appears to support the theoretical observation that virus mutations seen in South Africa will allow continued transmission of the virus in vaccinated populations.” , did he declare.
“Protection against moderate to severe illness, hospitalization or death could not be assessed in this study because the target population was at low risk.”
A spokesperson for AstraZeneca also said the company has started to adapt its vaccine against the variant and “will progress rapidly through clinical development so that it is ready for fall delivery when needed.”
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