South Africa tests first homegrown cholera vaccine
South Africa has launched its first clinical trial of an oral cholera vaccine developed and manufactured entirely within the country, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, speaking at Johannesburg’s Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, said the trial marked a major step toward restoring South Africa’s capacity to design and produce vaccines for local and global use.
“For the first time in history, a vaccine ready for a pivotal clinical trial has been developed and produced from start to finish right here on South African soil,” Motsoaledi said.
The Oral Cholera Vaccine, known as OCV-S, is being tested by local biopharmaceutical company Biovac in partnership with the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). It is the first vaccine developed in South Africa to reach this stage of testing.
“This vaccine represents more than science – it represents hope, resilience and Africa’s capacity to protect its own,” said Biovac Chief Executive Dr. Morena Makhoana.
Professor Glenda Gray, chief scientific officer at the SAMRC, called the initiative “a vital step in strengthening our ability to respond to infectious diseases.”
If the trials prove successful, the vaccine could be approved for use in Africa by 2028, with a wider rollout expected globally soon after, according to SA News.
Cholera is a waterborne bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhoea and dehydration and can be fatal if untreated. While not endemic in South Africa, sporadic outbreaks occur, often linked to cross-border transmission.
Zimbabwe, which borders South Africa, has battled one of the region’s worst recent cholera outbreaks, with more than 34,000 suspected cases and over 700 deaths reported between February 2023 and June 2024.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), South Africa reported several dozen cholera cases as of January 20, 2024, including a number imported from Zimbabwe.
