The suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine “is concerning”, but “there are caveats”



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“THEYesterday, South Africa announced that it was suspending the start of immunization with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after a study showed that it is marginally effective in preventing mild to moderate disease caused by the first variant identified in South Africa. This is clearly concerning“said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, this Monday, in a press conference.

“However, there are some important caveats,” added the WHO director. “Given the trial’s limited sample size and the younger, healthier profile of the participants, it is important to determine whether the vaccine is still effective in preventing more serious disease..

Before that, the public health specialist had already indicated that the Oxford / AstraZeneca drug is “one of several vaccines that have been shown to be effective in preventing severe Covid-19, hospitalization and death.”

Ghebreyesus explained that the results of the aforementioned study, which denounce the lack of effectiveness against the new variant of the coronavirus 501Y.V2, dominant in South Africa, “are a reminder that we must do everything possible to reduce the circulation of the virus with a confirmed public. “. sanitary measures “.

It is recalled that South Africa received one million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India last week, which should be administered to health professionals in the coming days.

Also read: AstraZeneca vaccine should be given to people up to 65, says DGS

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