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An illustrative image shows vials with Covid-19 vaccine stickers and syringes with the AstraZeneca logo.
AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective and is expected to be widely deployed, including in countries where the South African variant of the coronavirus could reduce its effectiveness, a World Health Organization panel said on Wednesday.
In the interim recommendations on the shot, the expert group of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) said the vaccine should be given in two doses with an interval of 8 to 12 weeks, and should also be used in people 65 years of age and older.
Even in countries like South Africa, where questions have been raised about the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine against a newly emerged variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, “there is no reason not to recommend its use, ”SAGE President Alejandro Cravioto said in a briefing.
“We have recommended that while there is a reduction in the possibility that this vaccine will have a full impact on its protective ability, especially against serious disease, there is no reason not to recommend its use. even in countries that have variant circulation, ”he says.
South Africa this week suspended part of its AstraZeneca vaccine deployment after data from a small trial showed it did not protect against mild to moderate illnesses of the now dominant coronavirus variant 501Y.V2 in the country.
WHO said these preliminary results “underscore the urgent need for a coordinated approach to the surveillance and evaluation of variants” and their impact on vaccine efficacy.
“WHO will continue to monitor the situation (and) as new data becomes available, recommendations will be updated accordingly,” he said.
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