• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
No Result
View All Result
1
Home Sci-tech

WHO reviews AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

16 March 2021, 8:20 AM  |
Noma Bolani Noma Bolani |  @SABCNews
Principal investigator in the South African Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine trial, Professor Shabir Madhi, says they need to exercise caution in interpreting this data.

Principal investigator in the South African Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine trial, Professor Shabir Madhi, says they need to exercise caution in interpreting this data.

Image: Reuters

Principal investigator in the South African Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine trial, Professor Shabir Madhi, says they need to exercise caution in interpreting this data.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it will look into suspicions of negative side-effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

This comes as more countries have suspended the use of the vaccine. They include the Netherlands, Thailand and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says at the moment there is no proof yet that the drug is linked to causing blood clots.

“This doesn’t necessarily mean that these events are linked to the vaccine but it’s routine practice to investigate them. And it shows the surveillance system works and effective controls are in place.”

He adds: “The WHO advisory committee on vaccine safety has been reviewing the available data and is in close contact with the European Medicines Agency and will meet tomorrow.”

Earlier on Monday, France, Germany and Spain decided to suspend the use of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine as a “precautionary measure” pending an assessment by the EMA, which authorized its use in the European Union (EU) on January 29.

Previously, Austria, Italy, Bulgaria, Denmark, Romania, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia and non-EU countries Norway and Iceland had already fully or partially suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Speaking at a press briefing at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, the WHO chief also addressed the issue of inequality in vaccine distribution.

The greatest threat that most countries face now is lack of access to vaccines, as some of the world’s richest countries are buying enough vaccines to immunize their populations several times over, while many other countries have nothing, he said.

He continued to call on all countries to work in solidarity to ensure that vaccination begins within the first 100 days of this year.

No country can simply vaccinate its way out of this pandemic alone, and we are all in this together, he said.

Additional reporting by Reuters

Share article
Previous Post

AA predicts high fuel price for April

Next Post

Sasco meets with ANC and some ministers to find solutions to the student protests

Related Posts

New born baby in hospital.

South Africa sees alarming spike in Fetal Alcohol Disorder rate

11 September 2023, 8:25 AM
Prof Bruce Mellado, chair of the local organising committee interacts with media ahead of the TIPP conference. The event brings together specialists from around the world to share best practice on Technology in Instrumentation and Particle Physics.

TIPP conference in Cape Town focusses on technological advancements

5 September 2023, 12:00 PM
FILE PHOTO - An internet cable is seen at a server room in this picture illustration taken in Warsaw January 24, 2012. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

INFOGRAPHIC: All you need to know about the SA undersea broken internet cables

18 August 2023, 7:21 PM
Logo of SiyaTutor, an AI-driven WhatsApp-based tutor chatbot designed to assist school learners in their educational journey.

WhatsApp combines AI in SiyaTutor for personalised learning

13 August 2023, 1:31 PM
FILE PHOTO: Twitter logo and a photo of Elon Musk are displayed through magnifier in this illustration taken October 27, 2022.

Elon Musk says Twitter’s blue bird to be replaced by an X

24 July 2023, 9:28 AM
Meta's Threads app and Twitter logos are seen in this illustration taken July 4, 2023.

Zuckerberg-Musk fights first round: Meta launches ‘Twitter Killer’ Threads app

6 July 2023, 7:29 AM
Next Post
Students want the institution to register those with historical debts with immediate effect.

Sasco meets with ANC and some ministers to find solutions to the student protests

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Six beaches in Durban flagged with high levels of E.coli
  • Visitors planning to visit the Overberg region urged to postpone their trips
  • Western Cape on high alert following severe storm warning
  • Steam trains revived in the Western Cape amid Heritage Day celebrations
  • A level two weather warning issued for southern KZN
  • High waves and rough water conditions force beach closures in the Western Cape
  • Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi to rest in the town he built and nurtured
  • NSPCA files criminal case against Julius Malema for alleged animal cruelty
  • Snow, heavy rainfall expected in parts of KZN: SAWS
  • Cold-front sweeps across SA bringing snow and chilly temperatures
  • Zoleka Mandela to be buried at the Fourways Memorial Park
  • Mandla Mandela urges respect for Zoleka’s peaceful rest
  • Police investigate fatal shooting on R40 in Hazyview
  • Dudu Myeni appears in Richards Bay court on fraud, corruption charges
  • Officials on the run as corruption allegations rock Sekhukhune District Municipality

LATEST

SABC building in Auckland Park.
  • Business

SABC confident amidst financial loss


Mandla Mandela.
  • South Africa

Mandla Mandela urges respect for Zoleka’s peaceful rest


[File Image] Aziz Pahad addressing an event.
  • Politics

Pahad hailed as a fine diplomat


[FILE IMAGE] Former SAA Board Chairperson Dudu Myeni.
  • Business

Dudu Myeni gets R10 000 bail


Penguins at Antarctica
  • South Africa

SA learners invited to join Matrics in Antarctica initiative


[FILE IMAGE] Doctor's room.
  • South Africa

Sekhing community gets healthcare centre


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2023

Previous Fuel AA predicts high fuel price for April
Next Sasco meets with ANC and some ministers to find solutions to the student protests