South Africa suspends AstraZeneca vaccine rollout

SouthAfrica​ is putting on hold the rollout of the Oxford/ AstraZeneca​ coronavirus vaccine, after disappointing study results suggested the jab offers significantly less protection against the locally prevalent variant of #Covid19​.
“The AstraZeneca vaccine appeared effective against the original strain, but not against the [B.1.351 South African] variant,” Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said during an online briefing on Sunday.