AstraZeneca vaccine still a sticking point
Shireen Darmalingam
Vaccine update:
- More than 781 million doses have been administered across 154 countries at a rate of 17.9 million doses a day.
- China is considering mixing vaccines to improve the efficacy of the vaccines.
- Health concerns around the AstraZeneca vaccine continue to hold back vaccination programs around the world.
- European export restrictions are also delaying the rollout.
- The African Union is no longer planning to buy AstraZeneca vaccines from the Serum Institute of India, as these will still be supplied through the COVAX facility.
- The AU is exploring options with J&J instead; a deal was announced to supply Africa with close to 400 million doses.
- COVAX aims to deliver 600 million shots, mostly AstraZeneca vaccines, to around 40 African countries this year.
- This will be adequate to vaccinate 20% of the recipient populations.
- The African Union’s Africa Vaccine Delivery Alliance has warned that mixed messages around the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine are having an impact on vaccine confidence in low- and middle-income countries.
- The AstraZeneca vaccine is often the only option available.
- Countries with large populations of the under 30s will likely question why they are being asked to take it when other countries have alternatives.
- In South Africa, 288,406 healthcare workers have been vaccinated to date.
Cases update: Global
- Global cases have surpassed 136.64 million, while the death toll has surpassed 2.94 million; recoveries are at 109.88 million.
- The US has 31.91 million cases, accounting for 24% of global cases; the US death toll is 575,829.
- India has 13.52 million cases and 170,209 deaths; Brazil has 13.48 million cases and 353,293 deaths.
- The UK reported 1,730 new cases yesterday, the lowest since 2 September 2020.
- Lockdown restrictions in England will ease this week, with restaurants, pubs and shops reopening; the travel ban will remain in place.
- Ireland will also begin easing restrictions.
- In contrast, France is closing all schools for three weeks, starting today.
Cases update: Africa
- Africa’s Covid-19 cases are at 4.38 million; fatalities are at 116,001.
- Morocco has 502,102 reported cases, Nigeria 163,799, Ghana 91,260, Kenya 145,670.
Cases update: South Africa
- SA currently has the 20th highest caseload, at 1.558 million; 931 new cases were reported yesterday.
- Covid-19 deaths rose by 66 yesterday, to 53,322; 1.483 million people (or 95%) have recovered from the virus.
- Gauteng has the highest number of confirmed cases, at 417,351 (accounting for 26.8% of the total); 10,424 deaths have been reported.
- The Western Cape has 284,268 (accounting for 18.2% of the total) and 11,506 deaths, while KwaZulu-Natal has 335,119 (accounting for 21.5% of the total) and 10,270 deaths.
- The Eastern Cape has 195,668 cases (accounting for 12,6% of the total) and 11,374 deaths.
- 10.13 million tests have been conducted since 5 March 2020; 23,013 tests were conducted yesterday.
Read PDF