South Africa’s (SA) Department of Health will today launch an initiative aimed at showcasing the country’s potential to develop its first vaccine from scratch in more than fifty years, a major step towards producing a home-grown cholera vaccine.
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, accompanied by Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Nomalungelo Gina, will lead the official launch at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto.
According to Health Department Spokesperson Foster Mohale, the milestone marks an important advancement in Africa’s quest for vaccine self-reliance and reflects SA’s growing capacity to respond to infectious diseases through local innovation and manufacturing.
The initiative will commence with Phase 1 of the vaccine assessment, aimed at determining whether the vaccine can effectively prevent cholera infection. The clinical trials, coordinated by the SA Medical Research Council, also highlight the country’s ability to conduct high-quality trials for a range of health products.
–ChannelAfrica–
