First Covid-19 vaccine trial in SA begins

THE first participants in South Africa’s first clinical trial for a vaccine against Covid-19 will be vaccinated this week.

The first clinical trial in South Africa and on the continent for a Covid-19 vaccine was announced on Tuesday during a virtual press conference hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits).

The South African Ox1Cov-19 Vaccine VIDA-Trial aims to find a vaccine that will prevent infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.

In South Africa, more than 100 000 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 since March when President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster and lockdown.

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By 17 June, South Africa contributed to 30 per cent of all diagnosed Covid-19 cases and 23 per cent of all Covid-19 deaths on the African continent. These statistics emphasise the urgent need for prevention of Covid-19 on the continent.

Shabir Madhi, Professor of Vaccinology at Wits University and Director of the South Africa Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (VIDA), leads the South African Ox1Cov-19 Vaccine VIDA-Trial.

Wits University is collaborating with the University of Oxford and the Oxford Jenner Institute on the South African trial.

“This is a landmark moment for South Africa and Africa at this stage of the Covid-19 pandemic. As we enter winter in South Africa and pressure increases on public hospitals, now more than ever we need a vaccine to prevent infection by COVID-19,” said Madhi, speaking at the launch of the South African Ox1Cov-19 Vaccine VIDA-Trial, which is being run at multiple sites in South Africa.

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“We began screening participants for the South African Oxford 1 Covid-19 vaccine trial last week and the first participants will be vaccinated this week,” said Madhi.

Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting

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