AstraZeneca vaccine is much less effective in the fight against COIVD-19 South African strain

Apparently, the drug does not protect against mild to moderate forms of the disease, the Financial Times reported, citing the results of a study by the Witwatersrand and Oxford universities to be published on February 8. The experts rely on both clinical trials and the analysis of blood samples taken from the vaccinated.

Effectiveness against severe forms of the disease has not yet been established, the study notes.

The company said that they could not fully study the effectiveness of their development against a severe form of the disease, since the participants in clinical trials were mostly young people without health issues, DW reported.