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UPDATE 1-Philippines reports first cases of COVID-19 South African variant

Published 03/02/2021, 12:18 PM
Updated 03/02/2021, 12:20 PM
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(Adds more details, background)
MANILA, March 2 (Reuters) - The Philippines has documented
six cases of the South African coronavirus variant, its health
ministry said on Tuesday, raising concern among its experts that
the current vaccines might be less effective.
The Philippines started its COVID-19 vaccination campaign on
Monday, an important milestone for a country among the hardest
hit by the pandemic in Asia, but the discovery of another
variant could complicate its recovery effort.
"While there is no evidence that this variant causes more
severe disease, the pattern of mutations within this variant
suggests higher transmissibility and may have an impact on
vaccine efficacy," the health ministry said in a statement.
Of the six cases with the South African variant, three were
detected locally and two were Filipinos returning from overseas.
The origin of the other case was still being verified.
The Philippines has so far found 87 cases with the more
transmissible variant.
President Rodrigo Duterte has said he would lift
restrictions on businesses and public transport in the capital
Manila once the government has secured 20 to 40 million doses of
coronavirus vaccines.
Although the Philippines has been in talks with most major
manufacturers of coronavirus vaccines to buy a combined 161
million doses, it has struggled to conclude deals, while stiff
competition has tightened supply.
Its first shipment of 600,000 doses of Sinovac SVA.O
vaccines on Sunday was a donation from China, part of which will
be used to inoculate military personnel.
It is expecting delivery of 1 million more doses of Sinovac
shots this month, which according to a Brazil institute is
effective against the British and South African variants.

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