Message of hope from local member of medical fraternity: we’re trying to beat the virus
Plettenberg Bay GP Dr Pieter Vollgraaff is one of a select team of medical practitioners putting their heads together to find a vaccine that may stop the spread of Covid-19.
VOL MOED: Dr Vollgraaff pictured in mid-deliberation at the Limpopo Clinical Research Initiative in Thabazimbi
For patients of Dr Pictcr Vollgraaff who thought he may have forsaken them si nee leaving his hometown last month, the great news is that the good doctor is hard at work in Limpopo Province, to contribute towards slopping the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic in its tracks.
Dr Vollgraaff said he was honoured when a friend and colleague gave him a call to ask his assistance with a study that may well make a positive impact on the lives of people across our country and the globe.
“It truly is a privilege to be in a position to actively make a difference by finding a solution to stop this worldwide pandemic, which is causing such heartbreak and has destroyed so many lives.”
He is currently working as a clinical research investigator at the Limpopo Clinical Research Initiative in Thabazimbi. The team has embarked on two vaccine studies, the vaccines in question being provided by Pfizer and Novavax respectively.
“Both of these studies need to be completed in a limited amount of time to try getting a vaccine available as soon as possible. Our team works very hard towards this end and, needless to say, days consist of long working hours/’
The team consists of three investigators” (medical doctors) along with nursing stall* pharmacists, and study coordinators. All participants are volunteers who have taken this opportunity to contribute to the cause, amid many parts of the world experiencing a second wave of infections.
“Each study has different criteria to be met by participants, which enables us to include it in the findings. It’s our job to ensure a participant meets the criteria and to collect data,” he explained.
“lite data collected arc extremely time-sensitive and need to be entered in a specific time frame. Our main objective is to establish the safety and efficacy of each vaccine. Due to the importance and magnitude of studies like these, we gel monitored on a regular basis to make sure our data is correct and of the highest quality.”
Dr Vollgraaff expressed his gratitude for the privilege to be able to serve SA citizens and the world at large in this way and added that he would be “back in our beautiful town soon to serve the local community.
“Please share this message of hope with your readers to explain that their doctors didn’t just disappear on them, but are in search of a solution to the Covid-19 crisis.”
He concluded with a quote from Hippocrates that perfectly describes his vision for medicine: “Whenever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.”
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Source: Knysna Plett Herald News