Government could in future consider the reintroduction of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to help fight the spread of the Delta-variant.

This, according to the co-chairperson of the Covid-19 Ministerial Advisory Committee, Professor Koleka Mlisana.

Her comments comes after research – at the University of Oxford – has shown that the two-dose vaccines, produced by AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech, remain broadly effective against the variant.

Mlisana says South Africa had to halt the roll-out of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine after a study showed “disappointing” results against the Beta-variant.

Another recent study, by Public Health England, also showed that the vaccines, made by Pfizer and AstraZeneca, offer high protection of more than 90% against hospitalization from the Delta variant.

Watch the full briefing here.

Related articles:

• IN FULL: Ramaphosa warns the third wave may be far worse.
• South Africa moves to Alert Level 4 of the lockdown, no alcohol sales allowed.
• Government has encouraged people over 50 years of age to register for their Covid-19 jab from 1 July.

Previously we had communicated that the #ThirdWave peak is unlikely to surpass the 2ndwave peak.
Unfortunately, this is no longer the case, our scientists, have discovered that we have a new variant that is prevalent in our country. This new variant is called that Delta #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/Sni3agbUcM

— Department of Health (@HealthZA) June 26, 2021