AstraZeneca begins vaccine trials against South African strain of COVID

In February, South Africa delayed vaccination with AstraZeneca's drug. As scientists reported, it was much less effective against the South African strain of covid-19prevailing in the country

Oxford University and ASTRAZENECA have begun clinical trials of a vaccine developed against the South African variant of the CORONAVIRUS, Le Figaro reported.

The trials will involve about 2,250 people from the UK, South Africa, Brazil and Poland. The new vaccine is also based on the adenoviral vector. Preliminary trial data for the drug are expected later this year.

“Testing booster doses of existing vaccines and vaccines against new variants is important to ensure that we are as well prepared as possible to stay one step ahead of the coronavirus pandemic should their use prove necessary,” said Professor Andrew Pollard, DIRECTOR of the research group on Oxford Vaccine Group vaccines.

German scientists say they have found a link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots

South African authorities announced the discovery of a new strain of coronavirus at the end of December. It was with this mutation in the country that the second wave of the pandemic was associated: more young patients without concomitant diseases began to appear in hospitals, who came to doctors in critical condition due to COVID-19, said South African HEALTH Minister Zweli Mkhize.

In addition, this strain is about 50% more infectious than previous mutations, it penetrates into human cells more easily and holds on to them more firmly, scientists from South Africa believe. Also, the new variant may be dangerous with the risk of re-infection, and already developed vaccines may be ineffective against it, scientists from the Johannesburg National Health Laboratory Service warned.

Amid the spread of a new strain of coronavirus, South Africa refused the AstraZeneca vaccine. This happened after scientists from the University of the Witwatersrend (South Africa) and Oxford reported on the low effectiveness of the drug against the South African variant. AstraZeneca South Africa sold the already arrived batch of the vaccine to other countries.

Spread of coronavirus Covid-19 in the world June 27 Number of confirmed cases of infection <1000 0 <100,000 0 <1,000,000 0 <10,000,000 0 from 10,000,000 0 Created with Highmaps 5.0.10010M20M30M40MZoom in+Zoom out- Source: JHU Data around the world i