South Africa temporarily suspended the rollout of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine after a study showed that it may not be effective against mild to moderate cases of a new strain. The new variant accounts for ~90% of cases in South Africa and was first reported in the US in January. While data is still emerging, researchers have expressed concerns that it may be more transmissible or resistant to current vaccines.
Extra: The study included ~2,000 participants and has not yet been peer-reviewed.
The New Paper
This story is from the February 8, 2021 edition of The New Paper – a clear, concise daily briefing that makes fact-first news easy to consume. Try it today.
