Two new Covid vaccines have less efficacy against South African strain

Early trial data shows Novavax and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have much less efficacy against new variant

Early data from two new coronavirus vaccine trials has indicated that they have less efficacy at protecting from the South African variant of coronavirus.

Clinical trial data showed that the vaccines from Novavax and Johnson & Johnson had significantly less efficacy at preventing coronavirus in trial participants in South Africa, where the new variant is widespread, compared with countries where the variant is less common.