Prof Salim Abdool Karim weighs in on Pfizer vaccine results, herd immunity, and SA transmission rate
"The Pfizer findings are momentous. In scientific terms, this is a game changer" - Prof Salim Abdool Karim.
Following Monday's announcement by drug maker Pfizer that early analysis of its COVID-19 vaccine trial show effectiveness in preventing the virus, South Africa's leading epidemiologist Professor Salim Abdool Karim and virologist Prof Tulio de Oliveira joined Darren, Keri, and Sky to unpack this.
According to Prof Karim, with over 200 vaccines being tested, a breakthrough with the Pfizer vaccine trial is great even though he highlights that it is important to note that the results are preliminary.
"This technology of using messenger RNA is a completely new technology. It has been showing promise for a long time, but no one has been able to make a vaccine until now... it also opens doors for more vaccines,'" Prof Karim explains
READ: Will interprovincial travel be allowed in December? Prof Tulio de Oliveira explains
He went into detail about what these results mean for us, what are some major drawbacks in the findings, and whether it can be rolled out.
Prof Karim also answered the following questions:
- What percentage of the population will have to be vaccinated so the world can move back to normal?
- When can South Africans expect to receive the vaccine?
- What to expect from the next field of vaccines.
- What does the latest transmission rate reveal about the second wave?
READ: Are buffs as safe as masks? Can you get COVID-19 from insects? Prof de Oliveira answers
IMAGE CREDIT: Caprisa| Facebook
Catch up with moments from the latest edition of Darren, Keri, and Sky below: