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South Africa to give up to 500,000 health workers Johnson & Johnson Covid jab amid AstraZeneca efficacy concerns | South Africa to give up to 500,000 health workers Johnson & Johnson Covid jab amid AstraZeneca efficacy concerns |
(30 days later) | |
Between 350,000 and 500,000 health workers in South Africa are to be given the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine, a top government medical adviser said, amid concerns over the AstraZeneca jab’s efficacy against the local strain. | Between 350,000 and 500,000 health workers in South Africa are to be given the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine, a top government medical adviser said, amid concerns over the AstraZeneca jab’s efficacy against the local strain. |
The government is hoping to take delivery of around 80,000 doses every seven to 14 days as part of its role in a global J&J "implementation study," the president of the South African Medical Research Council, Glenda Gray, told Reuters. | The government is hoping to take delivery of around 80,000 doses every seven to 14 days as part of its role in a global J&J "implementation study," the president of the South African Medical Research Council, Glenda Gray, told Reuters. |
Gray is the co-lead investigator of the South Africa part of the study, which will further scrutinize the J&J jab in a similar way to Phase IIIB studies, which gather more data on the efficacy of new drugs while regulators make their decision on approval. | Gray is the co-lead investigator of the South Africa part of the study, which will further scrutinize the J&J jab in a similar way to Phase IIIB studies, which gather more data on the efficacy of new drugs while regulators make their decision on approval. |
The one-shot jab has been tested on 43,000 people in global Phase III trials, including 6,500 people in South Africa, where it was deemed 57 percent effective against Covid-19 and, crucially, was also found to protect against the local variant of the virus. | The one-shot jab has been tested on 43,000 people in global Phase III trials, including 6,500 people in South Africa, where it was deemed 57 percent effective against Covid-19 and, crucially, was also found to protect against the local variant of the virus. |
Last week, the country suspended its rollout of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford after a study suggested that the jab was not effective against the so-called South African variant, 501.V2. | Last week, the country suspended its rollout of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford after a study suggested that the jab was not effective against the so-called South African variant, 501.V2. |
The South Africa-based study of 2,000 people, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, found that the AstraZeneca jab did not protect against "mild-moderate Covid-19" illness caused by the 501.V2 variant. | The South Africa-based study of 2,000 people, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, found that the AstraZeneca jab did not protect against "mild-moderate Covid-19" illness caused by the 501.V2 variant. |
The government is now using a limited "stepped" rollout of the vaccine to give the AstraZeneca vaccine to just 100,000 people so its efficacy can be tested further. | The government is now using a limited "stepped" rollout of the vaccine to give the AstraZeneca vaccine to just 100,000 people so its efficacy can be tested further. |
On Wednesday, South African health minister Zweli Mkhize confirmed that the public would start to be given the yet-to-be-approved J&J vaccine from next week. | On Wednesday, South African health minister Zweli Mkhize confirmed that the public would start to be given the yet-to-be-approved J&J vaccine from next week. |
He also said that if the "implementation study" of the J&J jab, which is delivered in a single dose, showed it worked against the 501.V2 variant then the government would "consider" selling its doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. | He also said that if the "implementation study" of the J&J jab, which is delivered in a single dose, showed it worked against the 501.V2 variant then the government would "consider" selling its doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. |
The country received some 1 million doses last week and is due to get another 500,000 in the next few weeks. | The country received some 1 million doses last week and is due to get another 500,000 in the next few weeks. |
Like this story? Share it with a friend! | Like this story? Share it with a friend! |