Coronavirus: South Africa halts AstraZeneca vaccine drive
- South Africa data showed AstraZeneca shot had limited efficacy against country’s dominant virus variant
- A World Health Organization panel will meet in Geneva to examine the shot
South Africa suspended the start of its AstraZeneca inoculation programme over concerns the shot does not work on a new variant, with WHO experts due to meet to discuss the vaccine already facing questions about its efficacy for over-65s.
A trial showed the vaccine provides only “minimal” protection against mild to moderate Covid-19 caused by the variant first detected in South Africa, a setback to the global fight against the pandemic as many poorer nations are relying on the logistical advantages offered by the AstraZeneca shot.
Africa’s hardest-hit nation was due to start its campaign in the coming days with a million AstraZeneca doses but the government decided to hold off in light of the results from the trial conducted by the University of Witatersrand in Johannesburg.
“It’s a temporary issue that we have to hold on AstraZeneca until we figure out these issues,” Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Sunday.
Instead, it will offer vaccines developed by Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer in the coming weeks.
The 1.5 million AstraZeneca vaccines obtained by South Africa, which will expire in April, will be kept until scientists give clear indications on their use, he added.
