AstraZeneca setback disappointing; highlights need for agile and comprehensive vaccination plan
8 February 2021
Note to Editors: Please find the attached soundbite by Siviwe Gwarube MP.
The announcement made by Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize and his team last night that the efficacy of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, due for rollout this month, has dropped to 22% against the 501.V2 variant is deeply disappointing. South Africa has been waiting eagerly for the rollout of an effective vaccine for our healthcare and frontline workers. The news that the rollout will be halted due to the reduced efficacy in our domestic circumstances hamstrings this effort and means that we may find ourselves in the throes of another 3rd wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
We understand that this is a highly volatile and forever changing scientific environment. The emerging of a new variant further complicates the response by the South African government and means that we ought to be agile and thorough in our approach and strategy.
That is why it is inexcusable that we negotiated- at a higher price- the procurement of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Indian Institute without due diligence and factoring in the expiry date of the vaccines. The reality is that while the clinical studies of the efficacy against the new variant are new, we should have taken into account the possibility of the changing efficacy or delays in rollout strategy and ensured that we were prepared for that – at least ensured that we wouldn’t be chasing an expiry date deadline. The admission by the Department of Health that this expiry date was only discovered upon the arrival of the stock is deeply problematic.