Health Minister Mkhize temporarily holds Covid-19 vaccine rollout over second wave variant efficacy

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Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize says that a discussion between the Department and a panel of experts has suggested that they should rather put a hold on the Covid-19 vaccine at the moment.

The Minister, President and Deputy President DD Mabuza welcomed an Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine about two weeks ago.

The meeting between the Minister and a panel of experts was to look at acquisition and rollout programme of the vaccine.

He said that the research conducted by the said experts showed that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, of which South Africa had procured one million doses from the Serum Institute of India, may not have the same efficacy (or effectiveness) against the mutated COVID-19 501Y.V2 variant – which is predominant in South Africa.

The clinical trial was led by Prof Shabir Madhi who said that the study on the vaccine was conducted using 2000 participants, aged between 18 and 65 years old.

He said that the trials were taken last year around October way before the second wave variant was discovered and 14 days after taking the first of two jabs, participants showed a 75% lesser likelihood of becoming infected with COVID-19.

He added that things started changing recently after they discovered the second wave variant, 501Y.V2.

“Much of the antibody induced by the vaccine was not actually active against the variant circulating in SA,” Madhi concluded.

The study showed a “substantial drop” in the vaccine’s ability to neutralise the activity of the virus when tested in the lab.

“When we analysed individuals in terms of how well the vaccine worked against the variant, there was very little difference between the vaccine group and placebo group,” Madhi said.

“However COVID vaccines really remain the only sustainable option of reducing risk of severe disease and death.”