US experts concerned over AstraZeneca's 'outdated' data in vaccine trial results

An independent review panel in the United States has raised concerns around the information released by AstraZeneca yesterday showing its COVID-19 vaccine was 79 percent effective in preventing symptomatic illness. A statement released in the early hours of Tuesday by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases -- or NIAID -- pointed to concern expressed by an independent panel of experts that AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from a trial conducted in the US, Chile and Peru. The NIAID has now urged AstraZeneca to work with the Data and Safety Monitoring Board to review the efficacy data and ensure the most accurate, up-to date efficacy data is made public as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, Anxiety is rising again over concern of an impending third wave of Covid-19 infections and the slowness of the vaccination rollout plan. Thus far, less than 200-thousand of the 1,2-million healthcare workers in the country have received their jabs. We spoke to senior health reporter at Bhekisisa, Aisha Abdool Karim.