FT “Astra Vaccine Concerns Over South African Mutation Symptoms”

Medical staff in Lyon, France, are vaccinating the Corona 19 vaccine jointly developed by AstraZeneca-Oxford University.[AP=연합뉴스]

The Financial Times (FT) reported on the 6th (local time) that the COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed by multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Oxford University in the UK showed markedly reduced efficacy against the mutant virus (501Y.V2) that spread in South Africa.

The results of phase 1 and 2 trials conducted by Oxford University and South Africa’s University of Bittersland in 2026 showed that the AstraZeneca vaccine did not prevent mild or severe manifestations due to mutations in South Africa.

The average age of participants in the trial was a healthy group with no immunodeficiency problems at age 31. None of these patients died or were hospitalized. The researchers explained that the effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing severe hospitalization or death from the South African vaccine could not be determined yet.

However, this clinical trial has a limitation in that the scale is small and the paper has not yet been evaluated by academic experts. The clinical trial report will be released on the 8th.

AstraZeneca-Oxford University joint development vaccine launched in the European Union (EU).[AFP=연합뉴스]

Professor Tulio de Oliveira, head of the South African Genome Research Network, evaluated the results of the experiment as “a warning that the world needs to strengthen its response to COVID-19.

According to FT, the University of Oxford and Wittwatersland, which conducted the test, declined to comment. At first, AstraZeneca refused to express its position, but later explained, “Considering that most test participants are young and healthy adults, the effectiveness of the vaccine against severe disease or hospitalization caused by mutations in South Africa could not be confirmed.”

“We believe that our vaccine will prevent the development of serious symptoms,” he added. “Because our vaccine has the same neutralizing antibody activity as other vaccines.”

Meanwhile, on the same day, AstraZeneca announced that its vaccine was effective against a mutant virus (B.1.1.7) that spread in the UK.

FT said, “All COVID-19 vaccines so far have been generally effective against mutations originating in the UK, but there have been several worrisome results for mutations originating in South Africa.” The effect was limited,” he pointed out. However, both Johnson & Johnson and NovaVax vaccines prevented severe symptoms or death caused by mutations in South Africa.

Earlier, AstraZeneca announced that it plans to develop a vaccine against the mutant virus by the fall or winter.

Reporter Jeong Eun-hye [email protected]