'I want doctors to learn from me to help others': Soweto man joins Covid-19 vaccine trials

Junior Mhlongo is the first South African to be injected as part of a potential vaccine trial for Covid-19.
Junior Mhlongo is the first South African to be injected as part of a potential vaccine trial for Covid-19.
Image: Alaister Russell/Sunday Times

The first South African citizen has just taken part in an international Covid-19 vaccination trial.

Junior Mhlongo, 24, of Soweto has just been injected with what South African medical scientists and vaccinologists hope will stop the global spread of Covid-19. Two thousand South Africans are taking part in the study.

Mhlongo said he was excited to be taking part in history. “I want to learn about the virus. I want doctors to be able to learn from me to help others.

“This is important. I am doing it to help. Not for any other reason,” he said, speaking moments after receiving an injection at an undisclosed Gauteng medical facility.

Shabir Madhi, professor of vaccinology at Wits university and director of SA Medical Research Council vaccines and infectious diseases analytics research unit, said it was an exciting moment.

“I won't lie, this has been keeping me up at night. It's the safety of this trial that is the most important thing.”


Junior Mhlongo is the first South African to be injected as part of a potential vaccine trial for Covid-19.
Junior Mhlongo is the first South African to be injected as part of a potential vaccine trial for Covid-19.
Image: Alaister Russell/Sunday Times
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