South Africa said on Sunday it would suspend its deployment of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after initial trials showed ‘disappointing’ results against the B.1.351 variant of COVID-19.
The country received 1 million doses of jab. It is planned to start using it from mid-February to vaccinate health workers in the front line.
The study, which involved about 2,000 people, found that the vaccine provides ‘minimal protection’ against mild to moderate cases of COVID-19. It has not yet been judged by peers.
Zweli Mkhize, South Africa’s Minister of Health, says that health workers at the front will rather receive samples produced by other manufacturers.
“We have decided to temporarily suspend the deployment of the (AstraZeneca) vaccine. More work needs to be done,” said South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize.
Scientists will study whether the AstraZeneca vaccine is effective in preventing serious illness and death against the new variant, according to Mkhize.
South Africa still looking at vaccination
In the coming weeks, the government will rather offer vaccinations manufactured by Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer.
This newer strain is more contagious and currently accounts for more than 90% of COVID-19 cases in the country.
By the end of the year, South Africa plans to vaccinate at least 67% of its population, or about 40 million people.
It has recorded nearly 1.5 million infections and more than 46,000 deaths due to the virus.
Developers promise to change the fall against the fall
Developers of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine say they will have a custom stitch ready by the end of the summer.
Sarah Gilbert, lead researcher for the Oxford team, told the BBC on Sunday that “we have a version with the South African peak order in the works.”
“It looks very likely that we will have a new version ready in the fall,” she added.
The early results for the AstraZeneca vaccine against the South African variant could have far-reaching consequences in the fight against coronavirus on the mainland.
Many African countries were planning to use the AstraZeneca shot because of its affordability and the fact that it can be stored in ordinary refrigerators.
COVAX, an international sourcing initiative for poorer countries, purchased the AstraZeneca vaccine in bulk from the Serum Institute of India.
jf / aw (AFP, AP)