Martin Friede, WHO
[Thread]

1. The mRNA technology transfer hub in Africa forms part of a larger plan to make #vaccines more available in less developed countries
2. The hub forms part of the last arm of the strategy: "to initiate regional health security via vaccine production"
2. The #COVAX manufacturing taskforce has 3 workstreams that address different needs. The #mRNAHub falls under workstream 3. The aim = to improve the nr of Africa companies that can make vaccines.
3. Many issues had to be considered when setting up the hub. For instance, how they will deal with IP rights, regulatory issues (how jabs will be approved in countries), funding and how clinical trials will be conducted.
4. SA will play a central role in the #mRNAHub. A SA company, Afrigen, will develop the continent's 1st locally produced mRNA jab (they'll be the hub). Another SA company, Biovac, will then manufacture the jab (Biovac will show them how, so do tech transfer. Biovac = a spoke).
5. Here's the timeline for the development of the #mRNAHub. The project was announced in April.
40 countries have so far indicated that they would like to receive tech transfer for the mRNA #COVID19 vaccine that the hub is developing.
6. The initial vaccine for the Africa #mRNAHub will be for #COVID (there will be hubs in other regions too, e.g. Latin America) . But the longterm goal is to develop the capacity to also produce non-mRNA vaccines and also jabs for other illnesses (so not just COVID).
7. How are decisions made for the Africa #mRNHub? The WHO makes the decisions and they are advised by various committees and structures.
8. This is the timeline for the development and production of the mRNA jab the hub will produce. The current goal is for Biovac to start with commercial production in quarter 2 (April- June) of 2023.
9. How will the SA hub be governed? There will be a (WHO) secretariat, a steering committee and a funders forum.
10. What is the budget for the SA hub?
1. Setting up of the hub (Afrigen): 55 mil Euros
2. Setting of the spoke (Biovac): 42 mil Euros
3. Development of local innovation 27 mil Euros

Total budget = 92 mil Euros (2021-2026)
11. Where do the funds for the #mRNAHub come from and how much money been secured?
- 50%+ of the money has been raised
- Donors: France, Canada (confirmed), Elma Foundation, KFW Development Bank (not yet confirmed)
12. There is still a 28mil to 40 mil Euros funding gap for the 92 mil Euros budget of the #mRNAHub.

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More from @miamalan

10 Dec
Update on #Omicron in SA via @Dr_Groome from @nicd_sa (presented @ Fri's @heatlhza press briefing):

[Thread]

1. The 7 day moving average of new #COVID19 cases = increased 40-fold between 16 Nov (332) + 8 Dec (13,237)
2. This increase is much steeper than in any previous wave
2. @Dr_Groome:
1. The increase in new #COVID19 cases = mostly driven by Gauteng, where the #Omicron outbreak started
2. Left graph = absolute nr of cases, right graph = incidence (new cases), accounted for population size = starting to see increases in other provinces too
3. What do new #COVID19 cases look like by age?
1. Early on in the #Omicron wave we saw more cases in younger age groups
2. Currently, the incidence is highest in the 20-39 year and 40-59 year group, followed by the 60+ year group
Read 18 tweets
10 Dec
[Thread] What's happening with #COVID19 vaccine boosters in SA?
Nicholas Crisp, @healthza:
1. #Pfizer boosters (3rd shots) = approved this week for 6 mnths after a 2nd shot
2. The 1st group of people = vaccinated on May 17 (start of rollout) + would qualify 4 a booster on 28 Dec
2. Nicholas Crisp, @healthza:
1. @healthza needs a recommendation from the vaccine MAC before it can start with a booster rollout
2. If approved, the rollout will start in early Jan (not on the 28 Dec when the 1st person technically qualifies)
3. Nicholas Crisp, @healthza: When will people who got jabbed with #JnJ get boosters?

1. #JnJ applied for @SAHPRA1 booster approval on Thu
2. Sahpra = review application over the weekend + make a recommendation next week
3. #JnJ + #Pfizer boosters = rolled out simultaneously
Read 4 tweets
10 Dec
[Thread] Why have 2nd #Pfizer doses for teens (12-17 yrs) been opened in SA?

Nicholas Crisp, @healthza:
Real-life data now shows the risk of myocarditis (heart inflammation) for teens after 2 shots of #Pfizer's vaccine is more or less the same as for the general population
2. Nicholas Crisp, @healthza:

Real-life data shows there is an increase in myocarditis among teens who get #COVID infection, so full vaccination (2 #Pfizer shots) will protect them against falling seriously ill with it.
3. Watch this video to learn more about the extremely low risk of heart inflammation after a #COVID19 vaccination for teens: bhekisisa.org/multimedia/202…
Read 5 tweets
10 Dec
[Thread] #JoePhaahla:
1. 67 countries have reported the #Omicron
2. There has been a 400% increase in weekly cases in KZN (week of 4 Dec compared to previous week)
2. #JoePhaahla
1. Hospital admissions increased by more than 200% (week of 4 Dec vs previous week)
2. #Omicron = dominant variant in Nov 2021 in SA (70% of specimens = Omicron, mostly Gauteng)
3. Omicron = the variant driving increase in cases in Gauteng over last 3 weeks
3. #JoePhaahla:
1. #Omicron is likely more transmissible than the #Delta variant based on the nr of increased #COVID19 cases in SA
2. #Omicron has replaced the #DeltaVariant as the dominant variant in Gauteng
Read 9 tweets
9 Dec
BREAKING: [Thread] 1. From today, teens between 12 and 17 years are eligible for a 2nd dose of #Pfizer's #COVID19 vaccine (up until now they could only get 1 dose).

That's why some parents got sms's this morning for their teens.
2. Is the 2nd dose of #Pfizer #COVID19 vaccine for adults and teens (12 - 17 years) the same as for adults?
Yes. It's exactly the same dose.

How long after the 1st dose can teens get a 2nd dose?
42 days (this is also the same as for adults)
3. Why could teens previously only get one dose of #Pfizer's #COVID19 vaccine?

There were concerns about the risk of heart inflammation for particularly teen boys after a 2nd shot. Real-life data now shows that it's safe to take a 2nd dose for teens. bit.ly/3GnHRES
Read 4 tweets
8 Dec
[Thread] 1. Selective #Omicron travel bans with no scientific justification are harmful. They fuel the stigmatisation of affected countries. Infectious disease studies = clear: discrimination leads to inequality and inequality to the spread of disease.
bit.ly/3lKHhcv
2. Western countries’ #Omicron travel bans on #Africa has resulted in discrimination. The Spanish Tribuna Albaceta published a cartoon of a ‘SA’ boat named Omicron filled with black Africans depicted as viruses, approaching the European shore.
3. Stigma has also emerged in the German media. The newspaper Die Rheinpfalz introduced Omicron as “the virus from Africa".
Read 16 tweets

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