South Africa offers its AstraZeneca jabs to African Union

Covid-19 vaccine.

South Africa suspends the start of its AstraZeneca inoculation programme over concerns the shot does not work on a new variant. PHOTO | AFP

South Africa said Tuesday it would offer its doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid vaccine to the African Union (AU) after scrapping their use due to efficacy concerns.

The country suspended its vaccine rollout -- meant to begin with the AstraZeneca shots earlier this month -- after a study found the jab failed to prevent mild and moderate illness caused by a variant found in South Africa.