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 South Africa halts AstraZeneca rollout
South Africa halted Monday's planned rollout of AstraZeneca's
COVID-19 vaccinations after data showed it gave minimal protection
against mild infection from one variant, stoking fears of a much
longer cat-and-mouse battle with the pathogen.
Researchers from the University of Witwatersrand and the University
of Oxford said in a prior-to-peer analysis that the AstraZeneca
vaccine provided minimal protection against mild or moderate
infection from the so-called South African variant among young
people.
"This study confirms that the pandemic coronavirus will find ways to
continue to spread in vaccinated populations, as expected," said
Andrew Pollard, chief investigator on the Oxford vaccine trial.
South Korea seeks to reassure ageing residents
With one of the fastest ageing populations in the world, South Korea
sought to reassure elderly residents as it said it would push ahead
with AstraZeneca’s vaccine but is still examining its efficacy for
people older than 65.
A panel of South Korean advisers has urged caution over the use of
AstraZeneca’s vaccine for people older than 65, citing a lack of
data, the food and drug safety ministry said last week.
On Monday, the government confirmed it would go ahead with plans to
distribute the company's vaccine, but that regulators will decide
later this week whether to provide it to older citizens.
UK says booster and annual vaccinations very probable
A COVID-19 booster in the autumn and then annual vaccinations are
very probable, Britain's vaccine deployment minister said as
countries race to inoculate in the face of new variants.
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 Britain has already injected
over 12 million first doses and is on track to
meet a target to vaccinate everyone in the top
most vulnerable groups by mid-February.
The success of the rollout, however, is spurring
debate about how soon the government can ease
lockdown restrictions amid plans to reopen
schools in England in March.
French flock to Madrid cafes
French tourists weary of their strict national lockdown are flocking
over the border to Madrid, where bars and restaurants are open and
people can stay outdoors until 10 p.m.
"Here, there's life - everything's happening!" said 22-year-old
student Clara Soudet as she left a live music event near Madrid's
bustling Gran Via.
Game, set and mask
Tennis fans wearing masks filtered into Melbourne Park on Monday for
the start of the Australian Open, this year's first Grand Slam
event, as the host city recorded one new locally acquired case of
coronavirus.
Players and staff arriving from overseas have all served 14 days of
quarantine but foreign fans have been kept out as part of
Australia's tough and effective measures to get to grips with the
coronavirus.
The tournament will welcome about half its usual capacity, with
crowds limited to 30,000 fans a day.
(Compiled by Linda Noakes; Editing by Nick Macfie)
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