More on the Novavax vaccine phase 3 trial results (and the big but)

I posted earier on the strong headline results from the Novavax trail:

• Coronavirus - UK PM Johnson says regulator will assess Novavax vaccine

In the linked article was the less than encouraging news that the vaccine's efficacy with respect to the Sth African strain of the virus is well below the headline nearly 90%. Here is a link to a more easily digestible piece in Stat:

• In its 15,000-volunteer U.K. trial, Novavax said, the vaccine prevented nine in 10 cases, including against a new strain of the virus that is circulating there. But in a 4,400-volunteer study in South Africa, the vaccine proved only 49% effective. In the 94% of the study population that did not have HIV, the efficacy was 60%.

(bolding mine).

Check out the link for more nuances on the study, its not all doom and gloom but it is a reason for wariness.