SA set for more Covid-19 vaccine trials
Updated | By Nokukhanya N Mntambo
South Africa is set to launch more coronavirus vaccine trials as the world continues to battle the deadly virus.
Several months since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global emergency, China and Russia are among countries in the race to find a vaccine.
Head of the Medical Research Council, Professor Glenda Gray, believes South Africa is also making headway in the global race for a vaccine.
On Thursday the University of Free State hosted a webinar themed ‘Post-COVID-19, Post-Crisis’ with medical experts including Gray.
“We are very lucky, there’s a proliferation, a global race to find a vaccine, a lot of cooperation between countries and governments and between funders,” she said.
The country launched its first vaccine trial in June, but the results are still pending.
“Very soon, in about one or two weeks, we’ll start a second trial and then in September we’ll start a third trial.
“There are different strategies for vaccines and the more vaccines that work, the better. We don’t just want one vaccine to work, we want lots of vaccines to work from different strategies because they’ll have varying levels of efficacies.
“The more vaccines that work, the more affordable they will be and the more does we will have for the countries."
ALSO READ:
Gray: Children spared in Covid-19 pandemic, open schools
On Thursday the University of Free State hosted a webinar themed 'Post-COVID-19, Post-Crisis' with medical experts including Gray. Gray believes pupils are better off in the classroom during the national lockdown. "Unequivocally, as a pediatrician and a parent, I believe that schools should be open.
She added that the country has the infrastructure to handle the ongoing trials.
“South Africa is lucky in that it has good infrastructure to conduct clinical trials, we have wonderful scientists who have been doing HIV vaccine research and they been able to transition to respond to the Covid-19 epidemic and they have the pharmacy and clinical infrastructure to support these trials.”
The news of more vaccines come in the same week as the country exceeding 500 000 infections.
The number of deaths has surpassed 11 000.
Show's Stories
-
LISTEN: The best road trip tips ahead of the Easter weekend
From traffic to packing, Rob Forbes and Rozanne McKenzie are sharing tip...
The Drive with Rob & Roz an hour ago -
Boris Kodjoe reveals that he trolls his kids' social media
Now this dad is a dad we can get down with... one that doesn't apologise...
The Workzone with Alex Jay 2 hours ago