LONDON (CU)_British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says his government is “very confident” about all COVID-19 vaccines being used, despite South Africa’s suspension of the Oxford/AstraZeneca rollout, over concerns regarding limited protection offered by the vaccine against mild infections caused by the variant of the virus discovered there.
“[…] all of the vaccines are effective in protecting against death and serious illness,” PM Johnson said, during a visit to a Coronavirus test manufacturing facility in Derby.
He noted that he has “no doubt that vaccines generally are going to offer the way out”, adding that with each passing day, “medicine is slowly getting the upper hand over the disease”.
In the case of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, the Prime Minister said there is “good evidence” that the vaccine is 67 per cent effective against the transmission of the virus.
Meanwhile, a study conducted by the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg found that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine provides “minimal protection” against mid-moderate infections of the variant dominant in South Africa, which led the government to suspend the use of the vaccine until a committee of experts advises the authorities on the best way to proceed.
Last Monday (Feb 1), the South African government received 1 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca shot produced by the Serum Institute of India, and was due to soon rollout the doses to healthcare workers in the country.
Instead, now, the they will offer vaccines developed by Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson in the coming weeks, while experts decide how the AstraZeneca shot can be deployed.
South Africa’s health minister Zweli Mkhize said the 501Y.V2 Coronavirus variant accounts for more than 90 per cent infections in the country, and that the AstraZeneca vaccine will remain with the government until the scientists give clear indications as to what needs to be done.
Briths health minister Edward Argar, on the other hand, pointed out that while the “small study” of the Oxford jab in South Africa cannot be disregarded, however, the decision of the South African government to halt the rollout is only a “temporary measure”.
Nevertheless, AstraZeneca has confirmed that it has begun adapting its vaccine against the South African variant, and is advancing rapidly through clinical development so that it may be ready for autumn delivery.
