The University of the Witwatersrand announced that it has resumed participation in the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine trial currently also underway in the UK, Brazil and the US. According to the university, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority and local ethics committees this week approved resuming vaccination in South Africa. In a statement, the university said that the Ox1nCov19 vaccine trial in the UK paused last week following a "medical event" in one trial participant there. "The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and Wits University ethics committees have now approved resuming vaccination, and we have done so," added Madhi. "Assessing the safety of the vaccine is the reason why studies such as these are essential in South Africa, before there is widespread use of the vaccine."

Source: News 24 September 16, 2020 15:04 UTC