Britain and France “There is no need to be too afraid… South African mutant vaccine ready by fall”
On the 7th (local time), a medical practitioner is receiving a vaccine against AstraZeneca and Oxford University’s novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) at the Minyo Hospital in Lechené near Paris, France. France received the first dose of 273,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Corona 19 vaccine and started vaccination for medical workers under the age of 65. AstraZeneca vaccine is the third corona 19 vaccine approved for use in the European Union (EU) after Pfizer, Bioentech and Modena. Renée AFP/Yonhap News
While the corona 19 vaccine of AstraZeneca, a British pharmaceutical company, was shown to be less effective against the corona 19 mutant virus from South Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Kingdom, and France are defending the efficacy of the vaccine. Earlier, the South African government, the epicenter of the South African mutation, withheld the AstraZeneca vaccine. At a briefing on the afternoon of the 8th (local time), Professor Jonathan Van Tam, the leading deputy head of health care in England, said at a briefing on the afternoon of the 8th (local time) that a study showed that the AstraZeneca vaccine was less effective in the mutation in South Africa, but “it is not necessary to be afraid. It is unlikely that the South African variant will become mainstream in the coming months.” He added that it is likely to be boosted in the fall with a vaccine tailored to the South African mutation. “An effective vaccine against South African mutations can be prepared by fall,” said Serra Gilbert, a professor at Oxford University who led the development of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine. Reuters Yonhap News
In France, the Minister of Health personally vaccinated the AstraZeneca vaccine on the same day and started promoting it. Minister Olivier Berand, a former doctor, was vaccinated at a hospital near Paris and said, “It is the evaluation of the scientific community and the medical community that 99% of the virus spreading in our country is not mutated from South Africa.” You can be protected from all Corona 19 viruses.” The World Health Organization was also concerned about excessive worries about the AstraZeneca vaccine. World Health Organization secretary-general Tedros Adhanom Gebreyes urged further research, saying, “This is clearly worrisome news, but the sample is too small,” over the suspension of use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in South Africa the day before. did. “AstraZeneca vaccine is still an important and life-saving tool,” said Richard Hatchett, CEO of the CEPI, which leads the international vaccine co-purchase and distribution organization with the World Health Organization and GAVI. “It is too early to discard,” he said. Previously, Oxford University revealed that the AstraZeneca vaccine did not prevent the onset of mild or moderate symptoms due to mutations in South Africa, and researchers at the University of South Africa found that the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine against the mutant virus in South Africa was less than 10%. Announced. By Choi Hyun-jun, staff reporter