panel of experts recommended that the AstraZeneca vaccine be used in all adults, and in countries where concerning new variants are circulating. Countries are expected to begin receiving their first tranches of the AstraZeneca vaccine from Covax later in February. “If we stop fighting it on any front,” he said, “it will come roaring back.”After the results of the small clinical trial of the AstraZeneca vaccine in South Africa were released, South Africa decided to pause plans to distribute it. Instead, South Africa was planning to inoculate health workers with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which prevented hospitalizations and deaths in clinical trials in the country. panel that examined the AstraZeneca vaccine also advised that it be given to adults regardless of their ages, breaking with a number of European countries that have opted to restrict the use of the vaccine to younger people.

Source: New York Times February 15, 2021 18:11 UTC