Despite taking part in a recent successful vaccine trial, South Africa does not have guaranteed access to it. South Africa missed out on the first deadline to take part in the WHO-backed COVAX scheme, but is currently understood to be negotiating with COVAX and manufacturers.
Early results from the Pfizer/BioNTech two-dose vaccine’s trial showed a 90% reduction in symptomatic COVID cases over placebo, and caused a media sensation. 800 South African participants are to take part in the trial.
“This is a massive development. It’s very exciting, and the interim results are very promising. It leaves me with lots of hope as this could pave the way for a vaccine to be developed before the end of the year,” said Dr Essak Mitha, the head of the South African arm of the clinical trial who is a clinical trial specialist and owner of Newtown Clinical Research in Johannesburg.
The news was met with some caution; the decision to announce the news via a company press release instead of a peer reviewed article was controversial.
The BioNTech vaccine is based around messenger RNA (mRNA). The mRNA in the vaccine carries viral proteins, and once introduced into the body’s cells, instructs them to make copies of viral proteins. One such protein coded for is the infamous “spike” protein that SARS-CoV-2 uses to latch onto cells, and which contributes to its high infectivity.
Source: AllAfrica
