Talks involving Johnson & Johnson’s proposal to run a booster trial in South Africa are underway following the company’s COVID-19 vaccine being used in a mass trial of almost half a million health workers in the country.
According to Glenda Gray, co-lead of the mass trial, the trial will include participants from the Sisonke study and could possibly begin in October. This would add to a booster study using ImmunityBio’s shot that had already begun.
J&J booster trial could start in SA
South Africa is no stranger to vaccine trials, with companies like Novavax, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and J&J hosting trials locally. While Covid-19 infections continue to rise, the country is currently bracing for a possible fourth wave expected later this year despite continued vaccine efforts made by the government.
“We are talking to J&J and the department of health about the feasibility of a boost. We would like to start that in October, in time for the fourth wave,” said Gray.
Gray, who is also the president of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), added that while the ImmunityBio’s trial is still in its first phase, with about 50 participants, it is expected to reach its final stage in October with about 10 000 people receiving doses.
As per the National Department of Health, South Africa’s Covid-19 death toll has reported around 84 152 fatalities to date, with a total number of laboratory-confirmed cases standing at over 2 800 000. The government’s goal is to vaccinate 70 percent of its adult population, or 28 million people, by the end of the year.
