AstraZeneca Vaccine - Afrikan Heroes

Guillain-Barre Syndrome Listed as ‘Very Rare’ Side Effect of AstraZeneca Vaccine

September 11, 2021

The neurological disorder, Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause temporary paralysis, has been listed as a “very rare” side effect of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine by the European Medicines Agency. The Guillain-Barre syndrome disorder is a nerve inflammation that could cause temporary paralysis and difficulty in breathing.
This was made known in an EMA latest update during the week. The update stated that a causal relationship was “considered at least a reasonable possibility”.
This comes after a total of 833 cases of the syndrome had been reported worldwide by July 31, from about 592 million doses of the AstraZeneca “Vaxzevria” shot administered.
The EMA has maintained that the Guillain-Barre syndrome should be added to the product information as a side effect of Vaxzevria, even though the syndrome is a “very rare” side effect, and only occurs in one in 10,000 people.

According to the agency, a warning should be added to the information on the vaccine which informs people to seek medical attention if they feel symptoms and develop weakness or paralysis that can affect the chest and face.
In July, the EMA had listed Guillain-Barre syndrome as a “very rare” side effect of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which uses the same adenovirus technology as the AstraZeneca vaccine. The US Food and Drug Administration had also warned in July of an increased risk of developing the neurological syndrome with Johnson & Johnson’s dose.
Despite this, EMA and US Food and Drug Administration have continued to stress that the vaccine’s benefits outweigh the potential risks.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

South African Variant of Covid-19, A Threat to AstraZeneca Vaccine

February 9, 2021

South Africa’s Health Minister Zweli Mkhize

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has proven ‘minimally effective’ against the South African variant, according to the Wits Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics (VIDA) research unit. The #AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has proven ‘minimally effective’ against the South African variant, according to the VIDA research unit.

In an official report, researchers from South Africa and the UK found that “viral neutralisation by sera induced by the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 coronavirus vaccine against the B.1.351 coronavirus variant were substantially reduced when compared with the ‘original’ strain of the coronavirus”.

Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford, Sarah Gilbert revealed that efforts are already underway to develop a new generation of vaccines that could offer protection from emerging variants as booster jabs.

“We are working with AstraZeneca to optimise the pipeline required for a strain change should one become necessary. This is the same issue that is faced by all of the vaccine developers, and we will continue to monitor the emergence of new variants that arise in readiness for a future strain change.”

To this end, South Africa’s Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has announced that the vaccine roll out will be halted temporarily.

“The AstraZeneca vaccine will remain with us up until the scientists give us clear indications as to what we need to do.”

Mkhize goes on to say that the Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccination programme will go ahead as planned.