South African researchers have begun clinical trials on the country’s first domestically produced vaccine in more than half a century, marking a major step toward vaccine independence on the continent. The oral cholera vaccine, developed by Cape Town-based pharmaceutical company Biovac, entered its first phase of trials on Tuesday to assess its safety in adults. Later stages will compare the vaccine’s effectiveness with existing global cholera vaccines. The South African government hailed the milestone as a “historic achievement” that boosts Africa’s capacity to produce vaccines locally rather than relying on imported pharmaceutical ingredients.
“If our vaccine works, we’ll become the second global producer of the oral cholera vaccine and can support international supply where outbreaks occur,” said Professor Glenda Gray, chief scientific officer at the South African Medical Research Council. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said the vaccine could be ready for use by 2028, pending trial results. “The ability to manufacture a life-saving vaccine from start to finish right here at home strengthens our national response and Africa’s self-reliance,” he said. South Africa regularly battles cholera outbreaks, often linked to cross-border movements and limited access to clean water in vulnerable communities such as Hammanskraal near Pretoria.
One of the first volunteers in the trial, Shadrack Makutu, 37, from Limpopo province, said he joined to help future generations. “Being part of this study is not just for me it’s going to benefit everyone across Africa,” he said. In 2023, a cholera outbreak killed 47 people in South Africa and infected more than 1,400 others, while neighbouring countries like Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe faced even higher tolls. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that up to 4 million people contract cholera each year, with 21,000 to 143,000 deaths.If successful, the Biovac vaccine could play a crucial role in expanding Africa’s vaccine manufacturing footprint and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers amid rising global demand for cholera prevention.
