[국제]South Africa withholds AstraZeneca vaccine… “Limited effect on mutation”

[앵커]

South Africa has decided to withhold the use of the UK AstraZeneca vaccine.

This is based on research showing limited effectiveness against mutant viruses from South Africa.

Reporter Kim Jin-ho.

[기자]

South Africa has decided to withhold the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has been evaluated for limited protection against the South African mutant virus.

[즈웰리 음키제 / 남아공 보건부 장관 : 일시적으로 아스트라제네카 백신을 보류했습니다. 이 문제에 대한 해결책이 나온다면 다시 접종할 수 있습니다.]

Earlier, researchers at the University of Oxford and the University of South Africa conducted phase 1 and 2 tests on 2,26 people.

Studies have shown that two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine did not effectively prevent the mild and moderate manifestations of the South African mutation.

[샤비르 마디 / 비트바테르스란트대 백신학과 교수 : 남아공 변이에 대한 백신 효과를 살펴볼 때 경증과 중등증을 실제 막아주는지 여부를 판단할 수 없었습니다.]

The effects of the South African mutation in preventing serious illness or hospitalization or death cannot yet be determined, the researchers explained.

In response, AstraZeneca said in the initial data of the small-scale phase 1 and 2 trials, it was found that the effect of its vaccine was limited in mild cases, mainly caused by mutations in South Africa.

However, the majority of test participants were young and healthy adults, so they explained that the effect of preventing serious illness and hospitalization was not properly confirmed.

South Africa previously received 1 million doses of the first shipment of AstraZeneca vaccine produced by the Serum Institute in India on the 1st.

It is likely that this vaccine can only be used if a later clinical trial proves its effect on the hospitalization rate or its severity.

South Africa was planning to start vaccinating medical staff within two weeks of going through the relevant procedures at the time.

The South African government is planning to provide Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccines while waiting for scientists to judge.

This is YTN Kim Jin-ho.

[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN plus 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]