"Limited Effectiveness Against Variants"... South Africa Suspends Use of AstraZeneca Vaccine

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] South Africa has decided to suspend the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. This is because it was found to be almost ineffective against the South African variant, which accounts for 9 out of 10 new confirmed cases.

Zweli Mkhize, South Africa's Minister of Health, announced on the 7th (local time) that "the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be suspended for the time being," according to major foreign media such as Bloomberg.

South Africa had originally planned to start vaccinating healthcare workers with the AstraZeneca vaccine from mid-month. The AstraZeneca vaccine was the first COVID-19 vaccine introduced in South Africa.

However, reflecting research results that the AstraZeneca vaccine has limited effectiveness against the South African variant, the South African government decided to suspend its use until additional data is secured and focus on distributing Pfizer and Janssen vaccines.

Earlier, researchers from Oxford University and the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa conducted Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials on 2,026 subjects and concluded that two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine could not prevent mild to moderate symptoms caused by the South African variant. The researchers did not provide specific numbers regarding the degree of preventive effect.

However, this clinical trial has been criticized for having too small a sample size. Only 39 participants were infected with the variant. Professor Shabir Madhi of the University of the Witwatersrand, who led the study, told the Wall Street Journal, "The estimated preventive effect is in the 10% range, but the sample size is too small to be statistically significant."

The average age of the trial participants being 31 years old is also considered a limitation. The Wall Street Journal stated, "Because the average age is young, it is difficult to determine whether the vaccine is effective across all age groups, and it is also difficult to assess the vaccine's effectiveness in preventing severe cases, hospitalization, or death caused by the variant." It added, "However, this study shows the need for updated vaccines to be developed, as existing vaccines are vulnerable to variant viruses."

The South African government plans to provide Janssen and Pfizer vaccines until further analysis is available. Health officials expressed relief, according to the Washington Post, that the recently announced clinical trials of Janssen and Novavax vaccines showed over 50% effectiveness against the South African variant. Although lower than against the original virus, this level is considered high compared to other vaccines.

Meanwhile, AstraZeneca has repeatedly claimed that even if its vaccine does not reduce the number of infections with the South African variant, it is effective in reducing deaths, hospitalizations, and severe cases in the long term. AstraZeneca plans to develop a vaccine targeting variant viruses as early as this fall. Sarah Gilbert, professor at Oxford University and head of AstraZeneca vaccine development, said in an interview with the BBC on the same day, "We are currently developing a vaccine that can counter the South African variant," adding, "We expect to complete development by fall."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.