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CANBERRA: Australia took action on Monday (February 8) to reassure its citizens about the efficacy of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine after South Africa suspended use of the injection because data showed it offered limited protection against a new one. strain of virus.
Citing data that showed the AstraZeneca vaccine reduced mild to moderate COVID-19 by 22 percent, South Africa said on Sunday it would discontinue use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
But Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt said the vaccine is effective in its main purpose.
“There is currently no evidence to indicate a reduction in the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines in preventing serious illness and death. That is the fundamental task, protecting health,” Hunt told reporters in Canberra.
READ: South Africa puts AstraZeneca vaccines on hold over COVID-19 variant data
Australia is expected to approve the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in a few days. Last month it approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, although it has secured enough doses for less than half of its population and orders remain behind schedule.
Australia is expected to start using the Pfizer vaccine later this month, although Canberra’s hopes for a full inoculation program lie in the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The country has ordered 53 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the vast majority of which will be manufactured locally by CSL.
READ: Oxford says COVID-19 vaccine with AstraZeneca works against UK variant
Australia, however, is under less pressure to begin COVID-19 inoculations after successfully suppressing the spread of the virus.
On Monday, only one new local case of COVID-19 was reported.
Australia has had just over 28,800 cases last year and 909 deaths.
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