12 year vaccinations south africa

South Africa will suspend the start of its Covid-19 vaccinations with the AstraZeneca jab after a study showed the drug failed to prevent mild and moderate cases of the virus variant that has appeared in the country. Africa's hardest-hit nation was due to start its campaign in the coming days with a million doses of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford. The suspension marks an important setback for the country, but officials said vaccine deliveries from other producers would soon be available and allow the campaign to move forward. 'It's a temporary issue that we have to hold on AstraZeneca until we figure out these issues,' Health Minister Zweli Mkhize told reporters during a virtual press conference. The special infection unit in the city of Tshwane, South Africa pushes a man showing symptoms of Covid-19 inside an ambulance The University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, which conducted the trial, said in a statement on Sunday that the AstraZeneca vaccine 'provides … [Read more...] about South Africa suspends rollout of Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid jab after research showed it failed to prevent mild cases of mutant virus

A booster jab that will help tackle the South African variant of coronavirus should be ready by the autumn, scientists said yesterday. The promise of an improved formulation will be necessary because the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has a 'minimal' effect against the variant in reducing the number of cases, according to preliminary research. Government sources said last night that there was 'no indication' the easing of lockdown would be affected by the findings that the Oxford vaccine is less effective against the South African variant. Yesterday South Africa said it was suspending use of the AstraZeneca vaccine while scientists advise on the best way to proceed. Professor Sarah Gilbert, lead researcher in the Oxford team, said current vaccines 'have a reduction in efficacy against some of the variant viruses'. Professor Sarah Gilbert, lead researcher in the Oxford team, told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that her team currently has 'a version with the South African spike sequence in the … [Read more...] about Booster jab by autumn: Second vaccine dose that will help tackle the South African variant of Covid-19 could be available later this year as experts work to tweak the Oxford vaccine after research showed it has ‘minimal’ effect on the mutant strain

South Africa is suspending its rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine after findings suggested it offers limited protection against mild disease caused by the COVID-19 variant discovered there. It comes as UK vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi urged the British public to keep faith with the Oxford jab, suggesting that an annual rollout of booster jabs was likely to be required, with the first to come in the autumn.Referring to data that showed the AstraZeneca vaccine reduced mild-to-moderate COVID-19 by just 22% in a trial conducted by the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa's health minister Zweli Mkhize said the vaccine would be put on hold.The government had been intending to give the AstraZeneca jab to healthcare workers, after receiving a million doses produced by the Serum Institute of India last week.Instead, it will offer those workers alternative vaccines from Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in the coming weeks. Advertisement … [Read more...] about COVID-19: South Africa halts rollout of Oxford/AstraZeneca jab due to ‘limited protection’ as Britons face needing a third jab

BRITS can be confident that coronavirus vaccines work despite fears surrounding the South African variant, a minister has claimed. It comes after a study revealed that the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab offers “minimal protection” against mild disease from the South African variant. 🦠 Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates So far in the UK over 12 million people have received a first dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech jab or the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, with over half a million having received their second dose. Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said the jabs being used “seem” to work well against the dominant variants circulating in the UK. Writing in The Telegraph he said scientists are currently working on updated versions of the jab which will be able to fight the variant more effectively.He said: “Last week we announced an agreement with the manufacturer CureVac to allow new varieties of vaccines based on messenger RNA … [Read more...] about You CAN be confident of Covid vaccines despite South Africa variant fears, says minister

BORIS Johnson has refused to rule out making lockdown longer if the South African variant continues to spread. The Prime Minister was speaking after a study found the Oxford vaccine offers minimal protection in preventing mild disease caused by the strain. 🦠 Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates He today said vaccines are "remain of massive benefit to our country" but failed to dismiss extending the current restrictions. It comes after a top scientist also warned that lockdown could be extended as "it's very possible" the mutated strain is already widespread in the UK. Dr Mike Tildesley, an infectious disease expert at Warwick University, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme "surge testing" taking place in certain areas in England "really needs to be effective" to halt transmission.But he warned that "sadly we may be in a similar situation to the Kent variant" which eventually spread across the whole of the UK. "The fact we're starting to see cases in … [Read more...] about Boris Johnson refuses to rule out making lockdown LONGER if South Africa variant continues to spread