• Only South Africa, Egypt participating in project• Experts fear phobia may scuttle effortsExperts are worried that Nigeria is not participating in the ongoing clinical trials on COVID-19 vaccines, unlike South Africa and Egypt. Agwale, who also chairs the Africa COVID-19 Vaccine Manufacturing Task Team, said there were plans to ensure that Africa participates in the manufacturing of some of the candidate vaccines on the continent so that we will not be left behind when the world eventually develops a COVID-19 vaccine. Anyakora hinted of plans to capture more than 10 late-stage vaccine trials at the earliest, through collaborations with global vaccine developers, sponsors, and African businesses that enable clinical studies. In Nigeria, there are fears about the controversial Infectious Disease Control Bill at the National Assembly (NASS). “There is also apprehension regarding the rumoured start-off of vaccine trials in Africa (in other words, using Africans as test tools).

Source: The Guardian August 04, 2020 03:56 UTC