 The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA)

recently approved the start of Phase 1 clinical trials for a locally

manufactured oral cholera vaccine developed by Biovac, a Cape

Town–based biopharmaceutical company.

 The announcement was made by Minister of Health, Dr Aaron

Motsoaledi, who described the development as a “historic leap” for

African healthcare independence.

 Cholera remains a serious public health threat across Africa, with

outbreaks linked to poor sanitation, contaminated water, and climate-

related flooding.

 The global shortage of cholera vaccines has worsened in recent years,

forcing the World Health Organization (WHO) to ration available

doses — underscoring the need for local production.

 The vaccine will undergo trials at the Perinatal HIV Research Unit

(Wits PHRU) in Johannesburg, testing its safety and dosage.

 If successful, later trials will expand to Durban and East London,

comparing results with the internationally used Euvichol-Plus

vaccine.

 The project is expected to contribute to South Africa’s goal of

becoming a continental vaccine manufacturing hub, aligning with the

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African Union’s target of producing 60% of all vaccines locally by

2030.

 Full approval and rollout are anticipated by 2028–2029 if all trial

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