South Africa has suspended the start of its AstraZeneca inoculation programme over concerns the shot does not work effectively on the South African variant.
A study published found that the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab was not effective at preventing mild illness caused by the more infectious South African mutation.
One trial showed the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine provides only “minimal” protection against mild to moderate Covid-19 caused by the variant first detected in South Africa.
The findings mean an adaptation or a third dose may need to be added to current vaccination programmes.