COVID-19: South Africa suspends launch of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine

The study of about 2,000 people suggested the jab offered only nominal protection against a mild sickness from the South African variant. Further stating that Oxford/AstraZeneca inoculation failed to prevent cases of the coronavirus variant discovered in the country.

"It's a temporary issue that we have to hold on AstraZeneca until we figure out these issues," Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said.

Whereas, In a paper due to be published on Monday, AstraZeneca said that none of the 2,000 participants developed serious symptoms. This could mean that it would still have an effect on severe illness.

While, no enough data is yet available to make a definitive judgment.

UK Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi asked people to remain positive in the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine. "While it is right and necessary to prepare for the deployment of an updated vaccine, we can take confidence from the current rollout and the protection it will provide all of us against this terrible disease," he said.

Africa's hardest-hit nation was due to start its vaccination campaign in the coming days, with a million doses of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford.

South Africa plans to vaccinate at least 67 per cent of its people, or about 40 million, by the end of the year The 1.5 million AstraZeneca vaccines were obtained which will expire in April.

 The country has recorded more than 1.5 million infections and 46,000 deaths from the virus.