Why the coronavirus variant in South Africa has put a damper on vaccines – and why many are still hopeful
4 years, 1 month ago

Why the coronavirus variant in South Africa has put a damper on vaccines – and why many are still hopeful

CNN  

CNN — A roller coaster of research has stoked concerns that a coronavirus variant first linked to South Africa could be resistant to vaccines and raise the bar for herd immunity. On Sunday, health officials in South Africa announced a temporary hold on the rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine after a study suggested it offered “minimal protection” against mild-to-moderate Covid-19 due to the variant, the University of Oxford said. “Across all geographies, across all variants, we see 85% protection” against severe disease, Dr. Mathai Mammen, the company’s global head of research and development, previously told CNN. Oxford’s announcement this week said that neutralization activity against B.1.351 was “substantially reduced when compared with the original strain of the coronavirus.” Similar results have been seen, albeit to varying degrees, across “almost every one of the vaccines that have been studied against this variant in different ways, either in the laboratory or in clinical studies,” Dr. Salim Abdool Karim, the chair of the South African government’s coronavirus advisory panel, previously told CNN. “When you look at the studies done in labs, there was less neutralizing activity against the South Africa strain,” vaccine expert Dr. Paul Offit told CNN after Novavax and Johnson & Johnson shared their results.

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History of this topic

AstraZeneca pulls its COVID-19 vaccine from the European market
10 months, 2 weeks ago

AstraZeneca pulls its COVID-19 vaccine from the European market

Associated Press  

LONDON — The pharma giant AstraZeneca has requested that the European authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine be pulled, according to the EU medicines regulator. In an update on the European Medicines Agency’s website Wednesday, the regulator said that the approval for AstraZeneca’s Vaxzevria had been withdrawn “at the request of the marketing authorization holder.” AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine was first given …

AstraZeneca removes its Covid vaccine worldwide after rare and dangerous side effect linked to 80 deaths in Britain was admitted in court papers
10 months, 2 weeks ago

AstraZeneca removes its Covid vaccine worldwide after rare and dangerous side effect linked to 80 deaths in Britain was admitted in court papers

Daily Mail  

AstraZeneca is removing its Covid vaccine worldwide, months after the pharmaceutical giant admitted that it can cause a rare and dangerous side effect. The vaccine, once heralded as a 'triumph for British science', has come under intense scrutiny in recent months for a very rare side effect causing blood clots and low blood platelet counts. The AstraZeneca jab was the …

AstraZeneca reaffirms Covid vaccine safety amid rare side effect concerns
10 months, 3 weeks ago

AstraZeneca reaffirms Covid vaccine safety amid rare side effect concerns

India TV News  

In response to recent concerns regarding potential rare side effects associated with the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, the pharmaceutical company has underscored its unwavering commitment to patient safety while affirming the vaccine's overall safety profile. This comes in the wake of a recent admission by AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical company, that its Covid vaccine Covishield and Vaxzevria "can, in very rare cases, …

Africa's COVID vaccine production line in jeopardy
2 years, 10 months ago

Africa's COVID vaccine production line in jeopardy

The Hindu  

Trisha shakes her head when asked if she's vaccinated. 'A massive setback for Africa's plans' In the absence of orders or commitments, Aspen is considering the repurposing of two COVID-19 production lines for the manufacture of other products. "The continent would lose its only existing COVID vaccine manufacturing capacity," Nicolaou says. Africa's major public health body, the Africa Centers for …

New oral Covid vaccine can decrease severity, transmission: Study
2 years, 10 months ago

New oral Covid vaccine can decrease severity, transmission: Study

India Today  

An investigational Covid vaccine designed to be administered orally has not only limited the degree of the disease but also decreased its airborne spread during its trial on animals, revealed a study published in the journal, Science Translational Medicine, earlier this week. The research team led by Duke University researcher Stephanie N Langel, a medical instructor in the Department of …

New plant-based Covid vaccine 70% effective against variants: Study
2 years, 10 months ago

New plant-based Covid vaccine 70% effective against variants: Study

India Today  

A new plant-based Covid-19 vaccine is nearly 70 per cent effective against symptomatic disease caused by five variants of the coronavirus, according to results of the human clinical trial of the preventive. The study, published on Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine, shows that the vaccine efficacy was 69.5 per cent against any symptomatic Covid-19 caused by five …

AstraZeneca Covid Booster Shot Effective Against Severe Disease, UK Study Finds
2 years, 10 months ago

AstraZeneca Covid Booster Shot Effective Against Severe Disease, UK Study Finds

News 18  

London: The third dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is effective against symptomatic disease and hospitalisation, offering protection comparable to a booster shot of the Pfizer preventive, according to a study conducted in the UK. The results show that after 25 or more weeks since primary vaccination with AstraZeneca, vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease post Omicron infection was 8.0 per cent …

Indian scientists claim to have designed vaccine against all variants of coronavirus
3 years, 1 month ago

Indian scientists claim to have designed vaccine against all variants of coronavirus

India TV News  

Indian scientists claim to have designed vaccine against all variants of coronavirus With new variants of the SARS-COV-2 virus triggering fresh waves of the highly infectious disease, scientists at the Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneshwar have designed a peptide vaccine. Indian scientists claim to have designed a universal vaccine that can be …

New COVID studies show promise for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine booster
3 years, 2 months ago

New COVID studies show promise for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine booster

NPR  

New COVID studies show promise for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine booster Enlarge this image toggle caption Rajesh Jantilal/AFP via Getty Images Rajesh Jantilal/AFP via Getty Images Two new studies of a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine booster showed promise against the omicron variant at a time when public health officials are urgently recommending booster shots against the fast-spreading variant. …

COVID: Study suggests AstraZeneca booster works against Omicron
3 years, 3 months ago

COVID: Study suggests AstraZeneca booster works against Omicron

Al Jazeera  

Findings from the study, which has yet to be peer reviewed, match those from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. AstraZeneca has said that a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine “significantly” lifted antibody levels against the Omicron coronavirus variant, citing data from a new laboratory study. Boosters ‘limit Omicron spread’ Oxford’s researchers analysed blood samples taken from individuals infected with COVID-19; those …

South Africa to give J&J vaccines to other African nations
3 years, 3 months ago

South Africa to give J&J vaccines to other African nations

Associated Press  

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa will donate just over 2 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to other African countries to boost the continent’s COVID-19 vaccine drive, the government announced Friday. “This donation embodies South Africa’s solidarity with our brothers and sisters on the continent with whom we are united in fighting an unprecedented threat to public health and …

Pfizer Covid vaccine less effective in South Africa after Omicron cases: Study
3 years, 3 months ago

Pfizer Covid vaccine less effective in South Africa after Omicron cases: Study

India Today  

Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine has been less effective in South Africa at keeping people infected with the virus out of hospital since the Omicron variant emerged last month, a real-world study published on Tuesday showed. When it came to avoiding infection altogether, the study by South Africa's largest private health insurance administrator, Discovery Health, showed that protection against catching Covid-19 had …

UK scientists trial first needle-free air-powered COVID-19 vaccine
3 years, 3 months ago

UK scientists trial first needle-free air-powered COVID-19 vaccine

Live Mint  

Scientists at the University of Cambridge on Tuesday began a clinical trial of a needle-free air-powered vaccine, which is expected to help combat future variants of COVID-19. "It’s vital that we continue to develop new generation vaccine candidates ready to help keep us safe from the next virus threats. Immunisation arms our immune system to look out for and block …

Pfizer jab protects against hospitalisation with Omicron: Study
3 years, 3 months ago

Pfizer jab protects against hospitalisation with Omicron: Study

Al Jazeera  

South Africa study, which has not been peer-reviewed, finds two doses of Pfizer’s COVID shot appear to provide 70 percent protection against hospitalisation. Two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine appear to provide 70 percent protection against hospitalisation from the Omicron coronavirus variant, according to an extensive real-world study in South Africa. SA’s first real-world data on #Pfizer’s #COVID19 jab’s protection …

December 13 2021: Omicron variant news
3 years, 3 months ago

December 13 2021: Omicron variant news

CNN  

There’s a substantial decrease in effectiveness of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines against the Omicron variant, according to a study from researchers at Oxford University. The results suggest the Omicron variant may drive a new wave of coronavirus infections, the researchers said, although there’s no evidence it would lead to an increase in severe disease or deaths. “Our findings …

South Africa approves Pfizer vaccine booster amid COVID wave
3 years, 3 months ago

South Africa approves Pfizer vaccine booster amid COVID wave

Associated Press  

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s regulatory authority has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as a booster shot, opening the way for third doses to be administered to battle the current surge driven by the omicron variant. In the last 24 hours, South Africa recorded 22,391 new cases, up from about 200 per day in early November. The South African Health Products Regulatory …

South African Regulator Approves Pfizer Booster Vaccine After Surge In Covid Cases
3 years, 3 months ago

South African Regulator Approves Pfizer Booster Vaccine After Surge In Covid Cases

News 18  

South Africa has approved the use of Pfizer’s coronavirus booster vaccine for people aged over 18 years, amid mounting concern following a record of almost 20,000 infections overnight, largely ascribed to the new and highly-mutating Omicron variant. The South African Health Products Authority on Wednesday approved the use of Pfizer’s Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine after BioNTech and Pfizer announced that two …

Mix and matching some COVID vaccines gives high immunity: Study
3 years, 3 months ago

Mix and matching some COVID vaccines gives high immunity: Study

Al Jazeera  

Oxford University study finds mixing a first dose of the Pfizer or Astrazeneca vaccine with a second Moderna shot yields higher antibodies. “I think the data from this study will be especially interesting and valuable to low- and middle-income countries where they’re still rolling out the first two doses of vaccines,” Snape said. “We’re showing … you don’t have to …

INSACOG Denies Suggesting Covid-19 Booster Shots, Says Vaccine Decision Not Its Mandate
3 years, 3 months ago

INSACOG Denies Suggesting Covid-19 Booster Shots, Says Vaccine Decision Not Its Mandate

News 18  

INSACOG, a national consortium of government institutions involved in genome sequencing of the novel coronavirus, has denied “recommending or suggesting” booster doses for those aged 40 and above. In a move to step up vigil against the heavily mutated Omicron variant, the consortium tasked with genome sequencing in India had said in a bulletin dated November 29 that “vaccination of …

Trigger of rare blood clots linked with AstraZeneca Covid vaccine found
3 years, 3 months ago

Trigger of rare blood clots linked with AstraZeneca Covid vaccine found

Deccan Chronicle  

Washington: Scientists have found a possible trigger behind the extremely rare blood clots linked to AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines, an advance that may help design new and improved preventives against the viral disease. An international team of researchers investigated vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, also known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, a life-threatening condition seen in a very …

December 2, 2021 Omicron coronavirus variant news
3 years, 3 months ago

December 2, 2021 Omicron coronavirus variant news

CNN  

Dr. Manjul Shukla transfers Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, at a mobile vaccination clinic in Worcester, Massachusetts. Any one of six different Covid-19 vaccines produce a strong immune system response and should work safely and well as boosters for people who have received initial vaccinations with either the Pfizer/BioNTech or AstraZeneca vaccines, British researchers …

December 2, 2021 Omicron coronavirus variant news
3 years, 3 months ago

December 2, 2021 Omicron coronavirus variant news

CNN  

Dr. Manjul Shukla transfers Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, at a mobile vaccination clinic in Worcester, Massachusetts. Any one of six different Covid-19 vaccines produce a strong immune system response and should work safely and well as boosters for people who have received initial vaccinations with either the Pfizer/BioNTech or AstraZeneca vaccines, British researchers …

Covishield: Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine remained effective even during India’s brutal second wave
3 years, 3 months ago

Covishield: Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine remained effective even during India’s brutal second wave

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Covishield vaccine was effective …

Travel bans over new 'Omicron' coronavirus variant are unjustified, says South Africa
3 years, 4 months ago

Travel bans over new 'Omicron' coronavirus variant are unjustified, says South Africa

India Today  

South Africa said on Friday that imposing restrictions on travellers from the country because of a newly identified Covid-19 variant was unjustified, after a British ban on flights from southern African countries that others have followed. Health Minister Joe Phaahla told a media briefing that South Africa was acting with transparency and travel bans were against the norms and standards …

Protection offered by booster shot beats ‘natural immunity,’ study suggests
3 years, 4 months ago

Protection offered by booster shot beats ‘natural immunity,’ study suggests

LA Times  

Michael Stremfel prepares a COVID-19 booster shot at Flintridge Pharmacy in La Cañada Flintridge. A new study finds that people who got a booster shot generated much higher levels of neutralizing antibodies than people who had a coronavirus infection. A small study that’s among the first to track people’s protective antibodies over time found that those who were immunized against …

Explained | What is the new coronavirus variant in South Africa?
3 years, 4 months ago

Explained | What is the new coronavirus variant in South Africa?

The Hindu  

What do we know about Omicron, the new coronavirus variant in South Africa? Formally known as B.1.1.529, the World Health Organisation had designated it as a Variant of Concern, that indicates it is quite likely to be extremely transmissible and potentially replace the dominant Delta variant. The South African Health Ministry said in a briefing that the variant so far …

Frequent mutations, rapid spread: All about the new coronavirus variant in South Africa
3 years, 4 months ago

Frequent mutations, rapid spread: All about the new coronavirus variant in South Africa

Hindustan Times  

A new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa's most populous Guanteng district has sent governments around the world in a state of high alert – especially in view of the fact that the variant, according to infectious diseases experts, displays a high number of mutations and rapid spread among young people. The new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa, currently …

The Race Is On to Develop a Vaccine Against Every Coronavirus
3 years, 4 months ago

The Race Is On to Develop a Vaccine Against Every Coronavirus

Wired  

On October 21, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave most of the US population permission to get a Covid vaccine booster—a shot in such high demand that 10 million people somehow obtained it in advance of that approval in an effort to feel a little safer. In a fistful of papers and preprints published in the past six …

Covid-19 vaccines may protect against other coronaviruses: Study
3 years, 5 months ago

Covid-19 vaccines may protect against other coronaviruses: Study

India Today  

Covid-19 vaccines and prior coronavirus infections can provide broad immunity against other, similar coronaviruses, according to a study. The study found that plasma from humans who had been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 produced antibodies that were cross-reactive, or provided protection, against SARS-CoV-1 and the common cold coronavirus. Mice that had been immunised with Covid-19 vaccines and later were exposed to the …

Mix-and-match vaccines highly effective against COVID-19: Lancet study
3 years, 5 months ago

Mix-and-match vaccines highly effective against COVID-19: Lancet study

Deccan Chronicle  

London: People who received a first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine followed by an mRNA vaccine shot had a lower risk of infection compared to those immunised with both doses of the AstraZeneca preventive, according to a nationwide study in Sweden. "However, our study shows a greater risk reduction for people who received an mRNA vaccine after having received …

US coronavirus: With more Covid-19 booster shots on the horizon, one expert says mixing and matching doses may be an effective approach
3 years, 5 months ago

US coronavirus: With more Covid-19 booster shots on the horizon, one expert says mixing and matching doses may be an effective approach

CNN  

CNN — Amid the growing prospect of more Covid-19 booster shots becoming available, an expert has suggested that some people could receive a dose of a different vaccine from the one they initially received. “I hope that when the FDA and CDC review data around Moderna and Johnson & Johnson that they will allow a mix-and-match approach,” CNN medical analyst …

Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness drops after 6 months: Study
3 years, 5 months ago

Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness drops after 6 months: Study

Live Mint  

The effectiveness of the Pfizer Inc/BioNTech SE vaccine in preventing infection by the coronavirus dropped to 47% from 88% six months after the second dose, according to data published on Monday that U.S. health agencies considered when deciding on the need for booster shots. The analysis showed that the vaccine's effectiveness in preventing hospitalization and death remained high at 90% …

AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine shows 74% efficacy in large US trial
3 years, 5 months ago

AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine shows 74% efficacy in large US trial

India Today  

AstraZeneca Plc's Covid-19 vaccine demonstrated 74% efficacy at preventing symptomatic disease, a figure that increased to 83.5% in people aged 65 and older, according to long-awaited results of the company's US clinical trial published on Wednesday. Overall efficacy of 74% was lower than the interim 79% figure reported by the British drugmaker in March, a result AstraZeneca revised days later …

For People Who Got The J&J Vaccine, Some Doctors Are Advising Boosters ASAP
3 years, 5 months ago

For People Who Got The J&J Vaccine, Some Doctors Are Advising Boosters ASAP

NPR  

For People Who Got The J&J Vaccine, Some Doctors Are Advising Boosters ASAP Enlarge this image toggle caption Stephen Zenner/Getty Images Stephen Zenner/Getty Images Last week, a panel of scientists and doctors met to discuss the Pfizer booster vaccine. Sponsor Message The Johnson & Johnson booster is a "bigger" issue, several panelists noted, because people who received that vaccine may …

AstraZeneca picks up new vaccine technology originally intended to target Covid
3 years, 6 months ago

AstraZeneca picks up new vaccine technology originally intended to target Covid

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Scientists at Imperial College London are partnering with AstraZeneca to develop …

Two dose version of Johnson & Johnson shot 94% effective against Covid-19, study finds
3 years, 6 months ago

Two dose version of Johnson & Johnson shot 94% effective against Covid-19, study finds

CNN  

CNN — A two-dose version of Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine provides 94% protection against symptomatic infection, the company said Tuesday – making a two-dose regimen of J&J’s Janssen vaccine comparable to a two-dose regimen of Moderna’s or Pfizer’s. “Our large real-world-evidence and Phase 3 studies confirm that the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine provides strong and long-lasting protection against …

South Africa vaccinates children in test of China’s Sinovac jab
3 years, 6 months ago

South Africa vaccinates children in test of China’s Sinovac jab

Al Jazeera  

The global study is to enroll 2,000 participants in South Africa while 12,000 others will be taking part in Kenya, the Philippines, Chile and Malaysia. South Africa has started vaccinating children and adolescents as part of the global phase three clinical trials of China’s Sinovac Biotech COVID-19 vaccine for people aged between six months and 17 years old. The first …

South African scientists monitoring new coronavirus variant
3 years, 6 months ago

South African scientists monitoring new coronavirus variant

Al Jazeera  

Scientists yet to establish whether the new variant is more contagious or able to overcome immunity provided by jabs. South African scientists have detected a new coronavirus variant with multiple mutations but are yet to establish whether it is more contagious or able to overcome the immunity provided by vaccines or prior infection, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases has …

Pfizer, AstraZeneca Covid vaccines less effective against Delta variant: Oxford-led study
3 years, 7 months ago

Pfizer, AstraZeneca Covid vaccines less effective against Delta variant: Oxford-led study

India TV News  

Pfizer, AstraZeneca Covid vaccines less effective against Delta variant: Oxford-led study The researchers, however, noted that with Delta, Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and Oxford-AstraZeneca preventive, known as Covishield in India, still offer good protection against new infections. The COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer and AstraZeneca are less effective against the Delta variant of coronavirus compared to the Alpha variant, according to a study …

COVID vaccine efficacy wanes, but jabs offer protection: Study
3 years, 7 months ago

COVID vaccine efficacy wanes, but jabs offer protection: Study

Al Jazeera  

Oxford University researchers say efficacy of Pfizer, AstraZeneca weakens 90 days after second dose, but both ‘still doing really well against Delta’ strain. The efficacy of two widely used coronavirus vaccines against the Delta variant weakens within three months of inoculation, but the jabs remain the most effective way to ensure protection against the strain, Oxford University researchers have found. …

Pfizer, AstraZeneca Covid vaccines less effective against Delta variant: Study
3 years, 7 months ago

Pfizer, AstraZeneca Covid vaccines less effective against Delta variant: Study

Deccan Chronicle  

London: The COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer and AstraZeneca are less effective against the Delta variant of coronavirus compared to the Alpha variant, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Oxford. However, Delta infections after two vaccine doses had similar peak levels of virus as those in unvaccinated people, the researchers said. Two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech have …

Johnson & Johnson says talks with India on Covid vaccine Janssen still going on
3 years, 7 months ago

Johnson & Johnson says talks with India on Covid vaccine Janssen still going on

Hindustan Times  

Days after India's drugs regulator announced that Johnson & Johnson has pulled out its proposal seeking accelerated approval of its Covid-19 vaccine, the company said that the talks are still on. A health worker prepares a dose of Janssen Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine at Leopold Sedar Senghor stadium in Dakar, Senegal. Without giving any details, Central Drugs Standard Control …

West African health officials race to vaccinate amid spikes
3 years, 7 months ago

West African health officials race to vaccinate amid spikes

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “At the beginning, there were people who gave …

West African health officials race to vaccinate amid spikes
3 years, 7 months ago

West African health officials race to vaccinate amid spikes

Associated Press  

DAKAR, Senegal — A resurgence of coronavirus cases in West Africa is hitting the region hard, inundating cemeteries where funeral numbers are rising and hospitals where beds are becoming scarce. “At the beginning, there were people who gave false information, but when people noticed an increase of contaminations and deaths, people understood that only vaccination can save them,” said Bamba …

Vaccine inequalty: African countries to receive six million Johnson and Johnson vaccines
3 years, 8 months ago

Vaccine inequalty: African countries to receive six million Johnson and Johnson vaccines

CNN  

CNN — Around six million doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine will be delivered by the African Union to 27 African nations that have paid for the shipments through the end of August, an AU special envoy said on Thursday. Local vaccine production ‘the answer’ The balance of Africa’s vaccine requirements will come from donors including COVAX, …

South African firm to make Pfizer vaccine, first in Africa
3 years, 8 months ago

South African firm to make Pfizer vaccine, first in Africa

Deccan Chronicle  

JOHANNESBURG: A South African firm will begin producing the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, the first time that the shot will be produced in Africa, Pfizer announced Wednesday. The Biovac Institute based in Cape Town will manufacture the vaccine for distribution across Africa, a move that should help address the continent’s desperate need for more vaccine doses amid a recent surge of …

Two jabs of Pfizer, AstraZeneca vaccines effective against Delta variant: Study
3 years, 8 months ago

Two jabs of Pfizer, AstraZeneca vaccines effective against Delta variant: Study

India Today  

Two doses of Pfizer or AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine are nearly as effective against the highly transmissible Delta coronavirus variant as they are against the previously dominant Alpha variant, a study published on Wednesday showed. Wednesday's study found that two doses of Pfizer's shot was 88% effective at preventing symptomatic disease from the Delta variant, compared to 93.7% against the Alpha …

South African firm to make Pfizer vaccine, first in Africa
3 years, 8 months ago

South African firm to make Pfizer vaccine, first in Africa

Associated Press  

JOHANNESBURG — A South African firm will begin producing the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, the first time that the shot will be produced in Africa, Pfizer announced Wednesday. The Biovac Institute based in Cape Town will manufacture the vaccine for distribution across Africa, a move that should help address the continent’s desperate need for more vaccine doses amid a recent surge …

Pfizer Covid vaccine induces \'good\' immune response against coronavirus variants
3 years, 8 months ago

Pfizer Covid vaccine induces \'good\' immune response against coronavirus variants

Deccan Chronicle  

London: Two doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine induce a "very good" antibody response against the SARS-CoV-2 variants, according to a study on 180 health care workers in Finland. The immune response was somewhat decreased against the Beta variant first found in South Africa, but the vaccine generated neutralising antibodies that give relatively good protection against the variant. They analysed …

South Africa's new coronavirus cases surge to record levels
3 years, 8 months ago

South Africa's new coronavirus cases surge to record levels

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy South Africa s resurgence of …

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