South Africa Considers Switching to Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Due to Concerns Over AstraZeneca Effectiveness

Strategic Insights -

South Africa is racing to adjust its COVID-19 vaccination strategy after preliminary data suggested the AstraZeneca vaccine may be only minimally effective against the country's dominant variant, prompting the suspension of its use among health workers. The country is now weighing the option of giving Johnson & Johnson's single-dose vaccine to 100,000 health care workers while monitoring its efficacy against the variant. Initial results from an international test showed the J&J vaccine is 57% effective in South Africa at preventing moderate to severe COVID-19.

Key Takeaways:

  • South Africa has suspended the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine due to concerns over its effectiveness against the country's dominant variant.
  • The country is considering giving Johnson & Johnson's single-dose vaccine to 100,000 health care workers while monitoring its efficacy against the variant.
  • Preliminary results from an international test showed the J&J vaccine is 57% effective in South Africa at preventing moderate to severe COVID-19.
  • The AstraZeneca vaccine showed only minimal protection against mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 in a small clinical trial involving 2,000 healthy volunteers with a median age of 31.
  • The results of the AstraZeneca study have not been peer-reviewed, but were described as a "reality check" by Professor Shabir Madhi, who conducted the trial.
  • The country is exploring the option of combining the AstraZeneca vaccine with another vaccine, as well as giving at least one dose of AstraZeneca in the hope it will protect against severe disease and death from the variant.
  • Most of the vaccines being tested require two doses, but Johnson & Johnson is an exception, making it an attractive option for the country.
  • The AstraZeneca doses in South Africa have an April expiration date, making it difficult to administer two doses within such a short period.
  • South African experts have been conducting clinical trials on the effects of the variant, known as B.1.351, which has reduced the level of protection offered by virtually all the vaccines.
  • The variant has become more than 90% dominant in South Africa, and most vaccines show satisfactory efficacy in protecting against severe cases and death caused by the version.

Statistics:

  • The AstraZeneca vaccine showed only 56-58% efficacy in the UK's Consensus Advisory Group (CAG) primary analyses, compared to 72% in the U.S. and 85% internationally in preventing the most serious symptoms.
  • Johnson & Johnson's vaccine is 85% effective internationally in preventing the most serious symptoms.
  • The variant B.1.351 has reduced the level of protection offered by virtually all the vaccines, but most vaccines show satisfactory efficacy in protecting against severe cases and death caused by the version.
  • South Africa has more than 46,000 deaths and has been battling one of Africa's most severe outbreaks.
  • The Southern Hemisphere country is expected to face another spike in cases and deaths in May or June, when it heads into its winter.

Sources:

  • "AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine might not work well in South Africa" by Maria Cheng, Associated Press (London).
  • "Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine is 57% effective in South Africa, but not as good as Pfizer-BioNTech" by Lauran Neergaard, Associated Press (Alexandria, VA).
  • "Coronavirus: AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines 'may not work as expected'" by London Business School (undated).
  • "AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine stops severe disease in 85% of participants in international trial" by BBC News (undated).