Mia Malan Profile picture
Aug 26, 2021 11 tweets 8 min read Read on X
[Thread]. 1. Want to use a hamburger to figure out if you can trust research data?

@Bhekisisa_MG's #JoAisha (the inseparable @vandykjoan/@A_AbdoolKarim) has done exactly this in their 4-part #SputnikSeries.

Hint: When burger ingredients join forces, each 1's role = amplified.
2. The burger patty

Ground beef is the star of the traditional burger. Its scientific equal = raw data scientists collect.

But you can’t just slap mince onto a burger. You need a binder before you can call it a patty.

In research, a study protocol (rule book) = the binder.
3. What is the #SputnikV jab?
- It's a viral vector jab (like the #JnJ jab, it uses an adenovirus to sneak an unharmful form of the #COVID virus into your body)
- You get 2 doses (they're not the same)
- Sputnik is under review by Sahpra

More here: bit.ly/3gCbOXj
4. How does #Spunik's burger patty (raw research data and study protocol) measure up?

Not great.

Neither the preclinical data, raw data of the trial, nor the study protocol were made public. Study participants were also not diverse (mainly white): bit.ly/3gCbOXj
5. The basting

You can upgrade your burger with some basting, for extra flavour and moisture.

Similarly, the peer-review process enhances the credibility of a clinical trial, doubly so if the paper is published in a prestigious academic journal: bit.ly/3jhxjyj
6. How good is #Sputnik’s basting?

Not too tasty. The jab was approved in Russia before there was data from trials on how well the vaccine worked.

When results were eventually reported in The Lancet, scientists questioned the peer review process: bit.ly/3jhxjyj
7. The lettuce

Nobody likes a soggy burger bun. So, reach for a crispy lettuce leaf to help the burger keep its structural integrity + to keep the basting under control.

Enter medicines regulators, who review raw data + clinical trials to determine if a jab = safe/effective.
8. How crispy is the #Sputnik burger’s lettuce?

Wilted at best.

Sputnik has been approved in 60+ countries, but none have reputable regulators like the FDA/EMA, that SA relies on.

WHO hasn’t made a decision on the jab due to lacking data.

Read why: bit.ly/3B9zkmm
9. The burger bun

Burger buns represent the public’s safety + trust in medicines.

If a burger is not assembled correctly/missing an ingredient, you risk the whole thing falling to pieces in your hands.

Likewise, all parts of the burger = NB to the trustworthiness of research.
10. The burger bun (continued)

All ingredients of the burger rely on the integrity of individual researchers. If you use bad meat to make your patty then the entire burger is compromised. Wilted lettuce doesn’t do the burger any favours either.
11. What about the Sputnik burger buns?

A bit mouldy.

An independent survey showed 60% of Russian people are unwilling to get the jab.

The lack of transparency in Sputnik's research process = likely undermined the public + scientists' trust: bit.ly/3BenI1p

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More from @miamalan

Jul 24
🧵1. BREAKING: The peer-reviewed results of the study of a 6-monthly jab, #lenacapavir, in which not a single of the 2134 women between 16-25 years who received the jab contracted #HIV, were released at #Aids2024.

Find the full study here:

bhekisisa.org/wp-content/upl…
Image
2. Women often find it hard to adhere to daily #oralPrEP. In the Purpose 1 trial, 91.5% of women returned on time for their next #lenacapavir jab at 26 weeks and 92.8% at week 52. Image
3. Only 4 women out of 2134 (0.2%) who received #lenacapavir dropped out of the trial because of injection-site reactions. Image
Read 15 tweets
Jan 17
[Thread] 12 things to know about the the proportion of pregnant women infected with #HIV from SA’s latest antenatal HIV survey. The survey is conducted by the @nicd_sa.

(Analysis of our 95-95-95 goals in my next thread later in Jan).

1/12 Image
2. What is the antenatal #HIV survey?

1. It measures the % of HIV+ pregnant women between the ages of 15 + 49.
2. Only women using state pregnancy clinics take part.
3. The survey has been conducted each year between 1990-2015, then in 2017, 2019 +2022. Image
3. How many pregnant women between 15-49’s blood was tested for #HIV? 37 828 out of 40 542 collected samples.
- 37 7171 = Black African women
- 37 541 didn’t live with the dad of their child
- 35,635 of dads were 5 years+ older than moms (this makes them more likely to get HIV) Image
Read 12 tweets
Jan 10, 2023
JUST IN [Thread]:
1.@healthza's Lesley Broomberg:
An extra #COVID19 booster jab for people of 18+ in SA will become available towards the end of JANUARY
- People of 50+ qualify for a 5th dose
- People of 18+ qualify for a 4th dose
2. Lesley Broomberg: Can you mix and match with additional boosters? Yes. You can choose whether you want a #JnJ or #Pfizer booster.
3. Lesley Broomberg:
Will teens of 12-17 qualify for boosters? Not at this stage. Why not? The #VMAC = not recommended booster doses for 12-17, based on an understanding that the protection provided by 2 #Pfizer doses = adequate, as 12-17 = @ low risk of severe #COVID19 illness
Read 5 tweets
Jan 10, 2023
[Thread] #JoePhaahla:
- Genomic surveillance Network reported the detection of the new subvariant XBB.1.5 in SA of a sample of a patient tested on 22 Dec
- Details of the patient = not known, it was a random sample taken for testing
- XBB.1.5 = also common in US
2. XBB.1.5 = common in US
#JoePhaahla:
- 97%+ of #COVID19 cases worldwide = still #Omicron
- XBB.1.5 cases = no major change in hospitalisations or deaths
- Immunity of SAs (vax and natural immunity) = still strong, so that is why we haven't seen much change in terms of hospital admissions/deaths
Read 5 tweets
Dec 13, 2022
🧵1. SA's @aspenpharma will be making 4 jabs (fill + finish) — pneumococcal, rotavirus, meningococcal, hexavalent — from 2023.

How will they finance this?
With a $30 million grant from @CEPIvaccines + @gatesfoundation.

Which APIs will Aspen use?
India's Serum Institute's
2. Why is it NB that an African company makes these jabs?

#Africa imports almost all its jabs. #COVID19 showed us this results in Africa being last in line to get vaccines during pandemics. The grant to Aspen is 1 of the 1st steps to change that.
3. What's the goal?

By 2040, the African Union wants #Africa to make 60% of the jabs the continent uses.

Why?
So that Africa is better equipped 2 respond 2 outbreaks (by developing the ability to make jabs + have technology in place to also make new jabs during pandemics).
Read 6 tweets
Dec 2, 2022
🧵1. BREAKING: @SAHPRA1 has confirmed the registration of the #HIV prevention jab, #CABLA in South Africa. On Thursday, #ViiVHealthcare issued their statement. ImageImage
2. Who can use the jab? @SAHPRA1 didn't specify restrictions for use in their statement, only that it is "a highly effective option for people at substantial risk of #HIV infection." Image
3. How does the jab work? It uses an #ARV called cabotegravir that prevents #HIV from replicating and entering someone’s cells. It’s taken every two months. Read my latest story for more. bit.ly/3ER7ejq
Read 5 tweets

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