This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
Published on June 23, 2020, South Africa is taking a significant step in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic by launching Africa's first vaccine pilot. The trial, which is being conducted in collaboration with the University of Oxford and the Oxford Jenner Institute, aims to vaccinate 2,000 people in South Africa.
Among the participants, 50 have HIV, and the trial is being conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. The vaccine has already been evaluated in Britain, where 4,000 participants have signed up for the trial.
According to University of Witwatersrand (Wits) vaccinology professor Shabir Madhi, the first participants in the South African trial will be vaccinated this week. Madhi described the trial as a 'landmark moment' in the fight against the pandemic, saying, '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.'
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize echoed Madhi's concerns, warning that South Africa was going through a 'devastating storm' expected to peak 'during the cold winter months.' Mkhize also highlighted the importance of dexamethasone, a generic anti-inflammatory drug found to reduce mortality among ventilated patients.
South Africa has implemented a strict nationwide lockdown since March 27, but confinement measures are being gradually phased out to allow business to pick up and limit damage to the economy. The country has also set up a new field hospital in the Eastern Cape province, which was built in collaboration with the German development agency and carmaker Volkswagen.
