South Africa has temporarily suspended the use of a coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford after preliminary findings showed that the jab had little effect on the control of mild to moderate disease due to a varying strain.
The announcement of dr. South Africa’s Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize followed on Sunday shortly after the country received 1 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, which is scheduled to start this week.
Researchers have investigated the efficacy of the vaccine, given the revival of cases driven by a more transmissible and probably more virulent variant called B.1.351.
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Findings stem from a phase 2 trial with 2000 healthy participants aged 18 to 65 years. Volunteers had two doses of vaccine or a placebo. Prof. Shabir Madhi at the University of the Witwatersrand finally suggested that the vaccine not be protected from mild to moderate COVID-19. However, scientists remain hopeful that the vaccine could provide protection against serious illnesses.
Madhi said before the variant emerged, the vaccine showed ‘enormous potential’ to reduce the mild to moderate disease by about 75% effectiveness, until the end of October.
The results show that variant cases later emerged among 19 of 748 vaccinated participants, and that 20 cases occurred among 714 participants who received the placebo, indicating that the vaccine was not effective in protecting against mild to moderate diseases. These results translate to a vaccine efficacy of 10.4%, although this figure may vary with a larger trial size.
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A spokeswoman for AstraZeneca told Fox News that the study could not determine the effectiveness of the vaccine in severe cases, as the researchers designed it.
“This was a small study with predominantly young (on average 31 years) healthy adults, where serious diseases are not predominant,” reads the AstraZeneca email. “No serious disease or hospitalization was observed in the vaccine or control participants. We believe that our vaccine will be protected against serious diseases caused by the new B.1.351 variant, as neutralizing antibody activity is equivalent to that seen. We have been working closely with the South African Ministry of Health on the best way to support the evaluation of COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca against serious diseases of the disease. B.1.351 variant , and how to bring this vaccine to the South African people. “
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Mkhize called the findings “disappointing” because the country was ready to export the vaccines, but said health workers would rather receive vaccinations developed by Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer. The health minister said scientists were determining the best approach for the AstraZeneca vaccines, and would return with a proposal.
Johnson & Johnson recently announced that the single-shot coronavirus vaccine was 66% effective in preventing COVID-19 in a global trial, and 57% effective in South Africa at 28 days after vaccination. Early results suggest that Pfizer’s vaccine will remain effective against the variant, although the company is working on a varying shot to better protect against strains.