Clinical trials for the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine commence in South Africa this week at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in South Africa, the first in Africa.

The announcement was made at a virtual conference hosted by the university.

South Africa joins over 140 vaccine trials that are either in the pre-clinical stage or clinical stage of development around the world, all in search of the vaccine.

“South Africa is very keen on getting a solution to this problem that seems to be predominantly affecting South Africa and of course we are not only doing it for South Africa, but we are also doing it for the rest of the world, particularly Africa,” Dr Johnny Mahlangu, Head of the School of Pathology at the university said, speaking on the Super Morning Show.

South Africa which has a population of about 59 million people, has 30% of all diagnosed COVID-19 cases and 23% of all COVID-19 deaths in Africa.

According to Dr Mahlangu, this is the first phase of the clinical trials and it is expected to last 12 months. 

In clinical trials he explained that there are three phases to finding a working safe vaccine.

“We are embarking on phase 1 and 2 which is a combined phase. The next phase is going to be a combined one of 2 and 3. Phase 2 and 3 can only happen once you’ve got the result of Phase 1 and 2 and we are looking at about 12 months from now," he said.

“Once that is completed the drug then becomes available for use by the general public. I am anticipating that at that stage when we are doing phase 3, the UK and other European countries would have completed their current phase 3. The drug may well be available somewhere in the world before we complete our Phase 3,” he added.

The study in South Africa will enroll 2000 healthy participants and is the same study which is currently underway in European countries, in the northern hemisphere, including the UK.

He explained that studies are repeated in other parts of the world to ensure that it works in that part of the world well.

“We do this all the time with flu vaccines. The flu vaccine strains that develop a vaccine in the northern hemisphere are often slightly different  from the strains that are used in the southern hemisphere and we are anticipating that this particular vaccine hopefully will not have that but we cannot take a chance.

He also expressed his pride at the feat South Africa and the continent has achieved by participating in the clinical trials and stressed that it is a monumental move in making sure Africa gets access to the drug, once trials are completed.

“We just want to make sure that the drug developed in the northern hemisphere has the same safety and efficacy  profile as the southern hemisphere.”

“We want the people in Africa to access this drug just like the people in the northern hemisphere. We just don't want the northern hemisphere to have the drug, have it for its people and then we are actually left on our own. If we participate in clinical trials in the development of this drug we would be seen as partners. When the drug becomes available, partners would also benefit,” he said.

The study is funded in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, South African Medical Research Council, the University of Witwatersrand among others.