South Africa stops vaccinating with AstraZeneca and Switzerland for the time being says ‘no’. What’s with this vaccine?

Vaccination with AstraZeneca has been suspended in South Africa. The preparation, developed by scientists at the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, may not be effective against the South African variant of the coronavirus. The first batch of this vaccine has recently reached Poland. The deputy health minister assured of its effectiveness. Here’s what is known about AstraZeneca.

1. South Africa’s Minister of Health has announced that it will suspend vaccination plans with AstraZeneca
2. The reason is suspicion that this vaccine is underperforming against the South African version of COVID-19. This is what recent research shows
3. AstraZeneca will soon be used for vaccinations in Poland. According to the deputy health minister, it is effective against variant B.1.351
4. It is too early to question the effectiveness of this vaccine – believes prof. Robert Flisiak
5. What else do we know about this vaccine?
6. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page

AstraZeneca ineffective against South African variant of the coronavirus?

AstraZeneca may be ineffective against the South African variant of the coronavirus, one of the two best known – alongside the UK – strains of COVID-19. South Africa’s Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize, announced that vaccination plans with the preparation would be suspended there. This is the result of research by scientists from the Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg with the participation of 2,1 thousand. people. Tests showed that people vaccinated with the British preparation were not more resistant to the virus than those given a placebo.

Of the 39 participants who contracted the South African variant B.1.351 of the coronavirus, 19 were in the vaccine group and 20 in the placebo group.

Previously, the Swiss had expressed doubts about the effectiveness of AstraZeneca. A few days ago, the local agency responsible for authorizing drugs to market refused to approve this preparation. «The data analyzed by the experts do not yet allow a positive conclusion to be drawn about the risks associated with the vaccine»- read the announcement.

The doubts that arose were dispelled on Monday by the Polish Deputy Minister of Health, Waldemar Kraska. – Studies in Europe and the United States have shown that this AstraZeneca vaccine is effective against the South African mutation. The research will still be conducted – he said on Polish Radio 24.

Prof. Flisiak about the AstraZeneca vaccine

We asked prof. Robert Flisiak from the Polish Epidemiological Society.

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“She’s definitely safe, we have no reason to believe otherwise.” We do not have our own experience, but we can rely on the data of the countries that have done it. In fact, several million British people were vaccinated with it. As for the potentially limited effectiveness for the South African variant, we still know too little about it. And if that were true, the use of this vaccine should be reviewed. But it is too early for that – said prof. Flisiak.

AstraZeneca will be used in Poland

The AstraZeneca vaccine is the third vaccine approved for marketing in the European Union, after the preparations of BioNTech / Pfizer and Moderna. Also in Poland. Our country has ordered 16 million doses of this vaccine. The first batch of the preparation was delivered to our country at the end of last week.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is to be given to people aged 18-60, and teachers will be vaccinated first.

AstraZeneca is not for seniors

Detailed information on this preparation can be found on the website of the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products (URPL). We read there, among other things, that in clinical trials the vaccine showed about 60 percent. effectiveness. Most of the participants in these studies were between the ages of 18 and 55.

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However, “there was not enough data in older participants (over 55 years of age) to determine how well the vaccine would work in this group. However, protection is expected given that the immune response is observed in this age group and based on experience with other vaccines (…) EMA scientific experts concluded that the vaccine can be used in the elderly ».

AstraZeneca – how does it work?

Astra Zeneca is a vector vaccine, unlike the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are mRNA types. It contains a modified virus, however, it is not a coronavirus, but an adenovirus. Adenoviruses cause infections of the upper respiratory tract and enter the body via airborne droplets, similar to SARS-CoV-2.

The preparation works by preparing the body to defend itself against COVID-19. The adenovirus contains the gene that produces the SARS-CoV-2 protein “S” protein. It is a protein found on the surface of the SARSCoV-2 virus that the virus needs to enter the cells of the human body.

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When administered, the vaccine delivers the SARS-CoV-2 virus gene to the body’s cells. The cells will use the gene to produce the “S” protein. A person’s immune system will recognize this protein as foreign and will produce antibodies and activate T lymphocytes (white blood cells) to attack them. When a vaccinated person develops the SARS-CoV-2 virus, their immune system recognizes it and is ready to defend the body.

AstraZeneca is given in two doses. The patient should receive the second dose between 4 and 12 weeks after the first injection. The vaccine is given as a 0,5 ml injection into the muscle (most often the upper arm).

AstraZeneca – what were the side effects?

As we read on the URPL website, the side effects of the vaccine in clinical trials were usually mild or moderate and disappeared within a few days after vaccination. The most common symptoms are: injection site pain and tenderness, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, general malaise, chills, feverjoint pain and nausea – occurred in more than 10 percent subjects. Vomiting and diarrhea occurred in less than 10 percent. Loss of appetite, dizziness, sweating, abdominal pain and rash occurred in less than 1% of the subjects tested.

Preliminary animal studies have shown no harmful effects on pregnancy, however, data from the use of AstraZeneca during pregnancy are very limited. There is also no information on breastfeeding, but the manufacturer does not assume any risk related to breastfeeding. The decision to use the vaccine in pregnant women should be made after close consultation with your doctor.

This may interest you:

1. Where can I get vaccinated against COVID-19? List of vaccination points
2. What does the COVID-19 vaccination look like? [WE EXPLAIN]
3. Types of COVID-19 Vaccines. How is vector different from mRNA vaccine? [WE EXPLAIN]

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