Covid-19: WHO approves use of AstraZeneca vaccine

On Monday, 15 February 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) approved emergency use of AstraZeneca vaccine. Thus, giving the green light for these vaccines to be rolled out through COVAX which helps deal with the lack of Covid-19 vaccines.

A large number of jabs developed by AstraZeneca-Oxford, 337.2 million doses, is destined for COVAX. Approving the use of the vaccine will allow its distribution in all countries covered by the agreement.

For the record, a week earlier, South Africa stopped administering the vaccine that showed “disappointing” results against the country’s widespread variant. AstraZeneca-Oxford is also believed to be inefficient for people over the age of 65.

WHO believes that the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine will reduce the cases of contagion and fatalities. The vaccine is being widely used in the United Kingdom.

Read also | Covid-19: AstraZeneca-Oxford's vaccine ineffective against the South African variant