Salim ismail

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

Ursula von der Leyen has taken a barbed swipe at Boris Johnson over his 'space race' approach to vaccines as she faces a huge backlash over the EU shambles. The European Commission president complained that some countries saw the drive to inoculate populations as a Cold War style 'confrontation'. The comments, as she addressed students attending the online Warwick Economics Summit, follow bitter clashes between the bloc and Britain over supplies. Meanwhile, German minister Peter Altmeier has dismissed comparisons with the UK's faster rollout, saying Mr Johnson's handling of the crisis had resulted in a higher death rate and 'endless suffering to tens of thousands of families'. The UK hit another vaccination milestone yesterday, with 12million people having been given jabs.  However, there are rising concerns today that mutant coronavirus strains could derail the huge push - with research suggesting the AstraZeneca jab is less effective against the South African variant.  … [Read more...] about Ursula von der Leyen lashes out at Boris Johnson’s ‘space race’ approach to vaccines as bitter German minister points to UK’s higher death rate and ‘endless suffering’

Boris Johnson today refused to rule out extending lockdown if the South African variant continues to spread amid fears Oxford University's vaccine may not stop people falling ill with the mutant strain. An alarming study found the British-made jab had 'minimal effect' in preventing mild disease caused by the strain, suggesting vaccinated people may still be able to catch and spread it. One prominent SAGE adviser claimed the finding meant 'more restrictions might be needed for longer'. Pressed on whether there may need to be a delay to easing restrictions if the jab is proven to be less effective at reducing transmission of the South African variant, the Prime Minister said vaccines are 'going to offer a way out' and 'remain of massive benefit to our country' — but failed to dismiss the prospect of a lockdown extension. During a visit to a coronavirus test manufacturing facility in Derby, he said: 'We're very confident in all the vaccines that we're using. And I think it's … [Read more...] about Boris Johnson refuses to rule out making lockdown LONGER if South African variant continues to spread – but insists all vaccines being used should protect against death amid fears Oxford’s jab doesn’t work on mutant strain

MINISTERS haven't signed ANY quarantine deals with hotels just days away from the launch - as it's estimated 200,000 will fly into the UK from variant hotspots by next week. It came after Piers Morgan got into a fiery row with Health Minister Ed Agar over the new quarantine regime which is due to start in a week's time. 🦠 Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates Anyone coming in from at least 30 'red list' countries must isolate for 10 days inside their hotel - and they can only be released with two negative tests. It's designed to stop the more transmissible mutant variants of Covid from grabbing hold in Britain and spreading like wildfire. But it's predicted that nearly 200,000 passengers from countries with mutant Covid strain are set to arrive in UK before the start of hotel quarantine next week.Today Piers gave the minister a fierce dressing down for failing to know if any deal was signed. This afternoon No10 confirmed no deals had yet been agreed … [Read more...] about Hotel quarantine: Gov confirms NO deals signed yet with hotels just days from launch despite 200k new arrivals

A LEADING Oxford professor has said it is inevitable new Covid variants will arise - but vaccines will prevent severe disease and deaths. Professor Andrew Pollard attempted to temper fears that new variants will render vaccines useless after the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab was found to be less effective against the South African variant. 🦠 Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates The director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, who led trials of the Oxford jab across the world, said new variants will continue to cause mild disease like the flu and common colds, regardless of vaccines. He suggested - as other scientists have before - that Covid will be around forever but the population will gain immunity towards it, and suffer a mild illness if they are infected. New variants will reinfect people who have already recovered from Covid as they evolve and gain new strengths.However, “the really important point though is that all vaccines everywhere in the world … [Read more...] about We’ll be hit with continuous new Covid strains but vaccines prevent severe disease and death, says Oxford prof