South Africa halts AstraZeneca vaccine rollout over new strain

South Africa has put its rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on hold after a study showed "disappointing" results against its new COVID strain.

BBC is reporting that scientists say the new strain accounts for 90% of new COVID-19 cases in South Africa.

The trial, involving some 2,000 people, found that the vaccine offered "minimal protection" against mild and moderate cases.

But experts are hopeful that the vaccine will still be effective at preventing severe cases.

South Africa has recorded almost 1.5 million coronavirus cases and more than 46,000 deaths since the pandemic began – a higher toll than any other country on the continent.

The country has received one million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab and was preparing to start vaccinating people.

[Source: BBC]