South Africa Halts Use of AstraZeneca Vaccine

Misbar has discovered that the country received over one million doses last week and was to begin inoculating the population in coming days. However, South Africa is halting its rollout of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine according to Statnews.com, following a new analysis that suggests the shot “provides minimal protection” against mild disease caused by the new coronavirus variant circulating in South Africa. The new variant is known as B.1.351 and was first identified in South Africa in mid-November 2020.

The sudden change in course came after initial study results were released detailing the apparent lack of efficacy the vaccine had on mild to moderate COVID-19 infection from the new variant. The vaccine initially showed it reduced mild cases of disease by 75 percent. But once B.1.351 became prevalent, that number dropped, and cases were reduced only 22 percent based on 42 cases of symptomatic COVID-19.

According to Statnews.com, other researchers have emphasized in separate statements that the study was a small one, including only 1,765 volunteers and the results have yet to be peer reviewed. AstraZeneca said it believes the vaccine will still protect against severe disease caused by B.1.35. The current study gives no information on whether the vaccine prevents severe disease, hospitalization, or death.

According to Financial Times, Shabir Madhi, who has led AstraZeneca’s clinical trials in the country, told South African radio on Monday that he still believed the shot would play a role in “protecting against severe disease.” The suspension of the rollout was intended “to give the scientific community in South Africa a bit more time to interrogate the data,” Mr Madhi said.