South Africa
South Africa's health products regulator on Monday said it would not approve Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine due to concerns it could increase the risk of HIV infection among men.
The decision was based on earlier studies testing the safety of a modified form of adenovirus -- a type of virus that causes respiratory infections -- known as the Ad5 and contained in the Russian jab.
"Use of the Sputnik V vaccine in South Africa, a setting of a high HIV prevalence and incidence, may increase the risk of vaccinated males acquiring HIV," the South African Health Product Regulatory Authority said in a statement.
It added that the company behind the application for the use of Sputnik V in South Africa had no proof the formula would be safe "in settings of high HIV prevalence".
The country worst-hit by the pandemic in Africa also has the world's highest number of people living with HIV.
It has been struggling with vaccine hesitancy.
Just over a quarter of 40 million targeted for vaccination by early 2022 are fully jabbed to date.
South Africa is this week set to begin vaccinating children as young as 12 and offering booster shots to certain immuno-compromised citizens.
It is currently offering the single-dose Johnson & Johnson -- which also contains an adenovirus but of a different type -- and the rMNA Pfizer/BioNTech jab.
The Chinese-made Sinovac has also been approved.
The World Health Organization has not yet given Sputnik V the green light for emergency use, although it is being administered in at least 45 countries.
02:20
South Africa to mark 30 years of freedom amid inequality and tense election ahead
Go to video
Repatriated South African apartheid-era artworks on display to celebrate 30 years of democracy
01:15
Africa: About 51 million lives saved through immunization programme - WHO
Go to video
Botswana rejects controversial UK proposal on asylum-seekers
01:10
Springboks confirm their Test fixture list for the rest of the year
01:14
South Africa: Another loss for ANC to stop Jacob Zuma's MK party