The center for disease control in Africa on Thursday confirm that they are not abandoning the AstraZeneca vaccine. This emanates from South Africa’s move on halting the move to pass the AstraZeneca vaccine. The African Union disease control unit says South Africa’s decision is based on the 501Y.V2 response to the vaccine. Apparently, the effectiveness of the vaccine on the variant was reduced hence the decision by South Africa. But this does not mean that the vaccine is no longer effective on the normal coronavirus. Thus, AstraZeneca is still efficient in most of the African countries.
AstraZeneca Vaccine in Africa
Through the help of the African Union, Africa is expecting 100 million doses of the vaccine. The plan is set to see its completion by the end of this year. John Nkengasong, the Africa CDC director, advises that more tests need to be launched on the vaccine. The tests will help determine how the vaccine can be of help to fight the new variant. Nonetheless, countries free from the new variant are good to go on using the AstraZeneca Vaccine. Moreover, the CDC director affirms that none of the Africa countries have refused to take the AstraZeneca vaccine.
501Y.V2 variant
This new variant has proven to be dominant in South Africa. It came to the limelight late last year and has since spread to six other known countries. That is Botswana, Comoros, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, and Zambia. The virus launched a new phase of the corona pandemic to South Africa. The variant is fifty percent more contagious, and its symptoms more severe than its former. In fact, the surging infections in South Africa and deaths are on the new variant.
South Africa stops the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
On Wednesday, South Africa health officials reported on the possibility of swapping the AstraZeneca vaccine. The AU, in efforts to respond to South Africa, is making efforts to purchase the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. African Union hopes to increase the number beyond the 120 million featured in its previous vaccination plan for Africa.
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