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Coronavac

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A healthcare worker administers a SINOVAC Covid-19 vaccine on a minor during the Numolux/SINOVAC Paediatric Covid-19 Vaccine Clinical Trial at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Pretoria, on September 10, 2021. – The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of two doses of CoronaVac against confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 cases in children and adolescents aged 6 months to 17 years. Efficacy will also be evaluated against hospitalization and severe COVID-19 cases. The study worldwide will enroll 14 000 children and adolescents in various pediatric age group cohorts across 5 countries (South Africa, Chile, Philippines, Malaysia and Kenya). (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)
12 YEARS AND OLDER

Pfizer vaccine approved for children older than 12, but roll-out not yet on the way

Vulnerable older groups remain a priority for the health department, so no Covid-19 jabs for children for now

  • Marcia Zali
4 min read
South Africa’s first paediatric vaccine trial participant received the first shot of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
CHILDREN FROM 6 MONTHS TO 17 YEARS

South African adolescent receives first shot in Sinovac trial

The youth is the first of 2 000 South African children taking part in the global trial to test the CoronaVac vaccine

  • Marcia Zali
4 min read
A healthcare worker acknowledges a boy during a COVID-19 vaccination outreach program on September 08, 2021 in Kampung Lok Urai, a remote village at Gaya Island outskirt of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Malaysia’s vaccination efforts have started to reach the country’s remote islands such as Gaya Island, off the coast of eastern Sabah state, which is located in Borneo. Better known for their white sand beaches and pristine waters, which were major attractions for divers and tourists before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the vaccination of populations in remote locations in Eastern Malaysia has been gathering pace as officials reach far-flung islands not often visited by teams of health workers. (Photo by Annice Lyn/Getty Images)
CHILE

As CoronaVac trials kick off children talk about their views on Covid-19 vaccinations

Children from the age of six months to 17 years will take part in vaccine trials

  • Marcia Zali
3 min read
CORONAVAC

What are the various Covid-19 vaccines being used in SA and how well do they work?

The vaccines being used to fight the pandemic take at least two weeks after inoculation to become effective — and nonpharmaceutical interventions remain crucial

  • Philip Machanick
5 min read
The US and South African medicines regulators have faced legal challenges regarding information used to review and approve Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine. (Guillem Sartorio/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
BOITUMELO SEMETE MAKOKOKETLA

South Africa not yet at risk from newly emerged ‘Delta Plus’ mutation, say scientists

Scientists are collecting information on the new Delta Plus Covid-19 mutation, a sublineage of the Delta variant that is causing infections to rise globally

  • Eunice Masson
2 min read
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
501 YV2

What does Mkhize have to say about the Cuban and Chinese vaccines?

South Africa could receive two million doses of the Coronavac vaccine from China, the health minister told parliament on Wednesday

  • Marcia Zali
3 min read