South African Scientists Have Ability to Produce Vaccines Locally!
South Africa has technical capabilities to produce vaccines as the country battles with the COVID-19 resurgence.
Johannesburg, South Africa (18 January 2021) – According to the Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, the threat of future pandemics, has propelled the country’s ability to develop and manufacture vaccines locally into the spotlight.
“Why can’t we produce in South Africa because we’ve produced other vaccines, with the scientist capacity that we have and infrastructure,” Nzimande asked.
Nzimande told the media on Monday that government, through the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), owns a 47.5% stake in Biovac, a biopharmaceutical company.
“The company has over the years developed the capability to manufacture vaccines,” he said.
Last year, the Minister launched an initiative, which sees Biovac manufacturing Hexaxim in partnership with Sanofi.
Hexaxim is the world’s first liquid hexavalent vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenza type B, and poliomyelitis.
“So, we do have a foundation that we need to build on,” he stressed.
It is also the first World Health Organisation Expanded Programme on Immunisation vaccine to be manufactured in South Africa, which he believes is a strong indication of the technical abilities of South African scientists.
Also, two studies are currently being supported in the area of immunisations.
Read more article on Good Things Guy