This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
On June 24, 2020, Oxford University, in collaboration with the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, announced the commencement of human trials for a potential COVID-19 vaccine.
As part of the trial, thousands of volunteers between the ages of 18 and 65 who received the vaccination will be monitored for 12 months to assess the vaccine's effectiveness in preventing COVID-19.
South Africa is the second country outside of Britain to participate in the Oxford trial, following Brazil's launch of its study on the same day.
The vaccine, known as AZD1222, is being developed in partnership with AstraZeneca.
According to Shabir Madhi, a professor in vaccinology at Wits University, this is likely to be the first of several COVID-19 vaccine studies to be conducted in South Africa over the next six months.
South Africa, which is gradually easing coronavirus lockdown restrictions, has the highest rate of infections in Africa, with over 100,000 cases and more than 2,000 deaths.
