South Africa Begins Trials for First Locally Developed Cholera Vaccine

South Africa has launched clinical trials for its first locally developed oral cholera vaccine by Biovac. The trials will test safety in adults and compare it with existing vaccines. If successful, it could be approved for use across Africa by 2028. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said local production reduces reliance on imports and improves pandemic preparedness. Cholera outbreaks in South Africa are linked to cross-border movement and poor access to clean water. Globally, cholera affects about 4 million people each year, causing up to 143,000 deaths.

Researchers and scientists in South Africa on Tuesday officially began clinical trials for the country’s first domestically developed vaccine. The vaccine, an oral cholera vaccine, was developed by the Cape Town-based pharmaceutical company Biovac. It is currently being tested to determine its safety in adults. Following these initial trials, researchers plan to conduct additional studies to compare the effectiveness of this new vaccine with existing cholera vaccines that are already available in the market. The Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, noted that if these trials are successful, the vaccine could receive approval for use across Africa by 2028, marking a significant step forward for the continent in terms of vaccine accessibility and self-sufficiency.

The development of this vaccine has been widely praised as a milestone not only for South Africa but also for other African countries, many of which face frequent cholera outbreaks. Motsoaledi highlighted that although South Africa has generally experienced relatively low levels of cholera, nations across Africa that are often severely affected by the disease could greatly benefit from a locally produced vaccine. He also pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic underscored Africa’s vulnerability to global health crises, especially because many countries had to rely heavily on imported vaccines.

Cholera outbreaks in South Africa are often linked to cross-border movement of people, as well as challenges in accessing clean water in certain communities. For instance, in Hammanskraal, a community in Pretoria, the provision of clean water continues to be a major problem. A cholera outbreak in 2023 in South Africa resulted in 47 deaths and over 1,400 reported cases. However, neighboring countries such as Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe have experienced even higher numbers of infections and fatalities in past outbreaks, highlighting the urgent need for an effective vaccine across the region.

Motsoaledi emphasized the broader importance of local vaccine research and production, explaining that the ability to develop and manufacture vaccines within the country reduces dependency on global supply chains and shields nations from geopolitical pressures, international market competition, and vaccine nationalism, which became particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The current clinical trials are being conducted in the provinces of Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal, regions that have previously reported cholera cases. Morena Makhoana, the CEO of Biovac, emphasized that this development addresses a critical, life-saving need, especially given the ongoing global shortages of cholera vaccines and the recurring nature of outbreaks around the world.

Individuals participating in the trials have cited concerns about water safety as a key motivation for joining. Lerato Maleka, 44, is among the first participants and explained that she enrolled because of the persistent water challenges in South Africa. She stated, “I haven't had cholera, but we know that sometimes they don’t maintain water systems, and people died in Hammanskraal from cholera by drinking contaminated water, so I wanted to be safe.” Although Maleka lives in Diepkloof, Soweto, an area that has not experienced a cholera outbreak, she noted that residents often have to boil tap water before consumption due to concerns about contamination.

Another participant, Shadrack Makutu, 37, from Limpopo province, also joined the trials. He shared that he had experienced a cholera outbreak in his village of Bushbuckridge. “I know people who share water with animals, and some have been affected by cholera,” Makutu said, underscoring the risk of transmission in rural areas where water infrastructure is limited.

Globally, cholera continues to be a significant health challenge. According to estimates from the World Health Organization, around 4 million people are affected by cholera each year, with the disease claiming between 21,000 and 143,000 lives annually. The introduction of a safe and effective locally developed vaccine in South Africa has the potential to significantly reduce these numbers, especially across the African continent, by ensuring timely and reliable access to life-saving immunization.