Our vaccines provide limited protection against mutated South African COVID-19: AstraZeneca

World

Published: 2021-02-07 10:13

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 21:11


Our vaccines provide limited protection against mutated South African COVID-19: AstraZeneca
Our vaccines provide limited protection against mutated South African COVID-19: AstraZeneca

Saturday, AstraZeneca and Oxford University announced that their vaccine appeared to only provide limited protection against the mild symptoms caused by the South African COVID-19, based on early data from a trial.

A report by Financial Times stated that the study conducted by the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa and the University of Oxford showed that the effect of the vaccine was weak against the mutation which emerged in South Africa.

An AstraZeneca spokesperson said in response to the report: “In this small phase I/II trial, early data has shown limited efficacy against mild disease primarily due to the B.1.351 South African variant,” an AstraZeneca spokesman said in response to the FT report.

"However, we have not been able to properly ascertain its effect against severe disease and hospitalization given that subjects were predominantly young healthy adults," he added.

The company said it believed its vaccine could prevent severe symptoms, given that neutralizing antibody activity was similar to other coronavirus vaccines that showed protection against serious disease symptoms.

However, the spokesman also said that AstraZeneca and Oxford University are currently adapting the COVID-19 vaccine against the South African mutation, adding that rapid advancements will surely be made through clinical development in order for it to be ready in the Autumn if required.

AstraZeneca vaccine trials involved 2,026 participants, of which only half took vaccines, with the others taking placebos. According to Financial Times, the trials have not been peer-reviewed.

Friday, Oxford University announced the vaccine has similar efficacy against the British coronavirus mutation as it does to the initial coronavirus variant.

So far, three COVID-19 mutations have been detected worldwide which pose major concerns for scientists and health experts, including those in Britain, South Africa, and Brazil.


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