Geneva (AFP)
Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) are examining AstraZeneca and Oxford's anti-Covid-19 vaccine on Monday, as its effectiveness for the elderly and against the South African variant of the virus is questioned , South Africa even going so far as to suspend its immunization campaign.
The AstraZeneca / Oxford vaccine, which the United Kingdom was the first to administer massively to its population in December, has already been approved by several other countries and by the European Union.
But some governments have preferred to recommend it only for those under 65 or even 55, for lack of sufficient data on its effectiveness for older people.
And on Sunday, South Africa suspended the start of its Covid-19 vaccination program, which was due to take place in the coming days with one million Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccines, after a study showing "limited" effectiveness against the local variant of the virus.
- Transmitted to already vaccinated -
"The first results seem to confirm that the virus mutation detected in South Africa can be transmitted to the already vaccinated population," said a statement on this study from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, which has not yet been examined by peers.
"We believe that our vaccine will still protect against severe forms of the disease," said a spokesperson for AstraZeneca, contacted by AFP.
On Monday, the WHO's strategic committee of immunization experts met by video conference to make interim recommendations for the use of this vaccine.
“Particular attention will be given to the discussion on the use of the vaccine on older adults,” says the WHO agenda.
With an average effectiveness for the time being of 70%, the AstraZeneca / Oxford vaccine is less convincing for the moment than those of Pfizer / BioNTech or Moderna, whose effectiveness exceeds 90%.
But this vaccine uses a more traditional technology than these two competitors, which makes it less expensive, easier to store since it can be stored in refrigerators and not at very low temperatures, and therefore more suitable for massive vaccination campaigns. .
The novel coronavirus pandemic has killed at least 2.31 million people worldwide since the WHO office in China reported the onset of the disease in late December 2019, according to an AFP report from official sources Sunday at 11:00 GMT.
More than 105.7 million cases have been diagnosed.
- Deconfinement in Israel -
However, some countries see a glimmer of hope.
Israel, which has already vaccinated more than 40% of its population, began to emerge from its third lockdown on Sunday.
Israelis can now move beyond a kilometer from their homes, "non-essential" businesses, nature reserves and national parks have reopened, as have guest houses.
"I have informed my clients that we are back to work. The clients will arrive soon and we hope that this is the end of this saga," rejoiced Sunday morning Eli Aroas, a 58-year-old barber in Jerusalem, while waiting to be able to pull out his scissors and clippers.
In neighboring Jordan, hundreds of thousands of students returned to school on Sunday, after a year of closure, thanks to a lull in the epidemic.
"I am very happy because I saw my girlfriends and my teacher again. We had lessons, we chatted, we played and we ate together", said with a smile Mecca, 7, a student of a Muslim college for girls in Amman.
"At home I was bored, being at school is much better".
Austria also eased its confinement on Monday, with the reopening of schools, museums and shops.
Primary schools are also reopening in Denmark and the Netherlands.
In Quebec, it is museums and "non-essential" businesses that can once again welcome the public.
In the Czech Republic, which has one of the worst death rates in Europe in relation to the number of inhabitants, Labor Minister Jana Malacova estimated on Sunday that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic were worse than those of World War II .
"Even World War II did not cause as much disruption as the Covid. The children were going to school," the minister said.
Covid-19 "is a disease that put the country at a standstill for a year, the whole economy is struggling," she said.
burx-roc / alc
© 2021 AFP