South Africa will launch Africa's first vaccine study with coronavirus

On Tuesday South Africa announced its first clinical trial of the novel coronavirus vaccine this week. South Africa will launch the first African coronavirus vaccine trial as the country with the highest number of cases in Africa.

The candidate to the vaccine, which was developed by the Oxford Jenner Institute in the UK, is currently being evaluated, where 4000 participants signed up to the trial, researchers told the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) of Johannesburg at a virtual news conference.

Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (VIDA), Professor of vaccination at Wits Uni and Director of the South Africa Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Shabir Madhi, who heads the trial, said:

"At this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is a landmark moment for South Africa and Africa. The South African vaccine study Oxford 1 COVID-19 started last week and will be vaccinated by our first participants this week.

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The school works with Oxford University and the Oxford Jenner Institute to conduct this trial.

According to a statement on the website of Wits, the vaccine used is the same in the UK and Brazil.

With 101,590 cases and 1,991 fatality, South Africa is the most hit country in the continent. Health officials have warned of a rise in infections within the next few days.