South Africa suspends use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

But the Australian government has downplayed concerns over its efficacy against new strains of SARS-CoV-2
Australian Associated Press

Australia should forge ahead with its COVID-19 vaccination strategy and not be deterred by South Africa’s decision to suspend use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, a leading researcher says.

Overnight, the South African health minister Zweli Mkhize said the government had paused the rollout of the two-dose viral vector vaccine amid doubts over its efficacy against the highly transmissable B.1.351 strain.