Health News

South African firm to make Pfizer vaccine, first in Africa

A South African firm will begin producing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the first time that the shot will be produced in Africa, Pfizer announced Wednesday. The Biovac Institute based in Cape Town will manufacture the vaccine for distribution across Africa, a move that should help address the continent’s desperate need for more vaccine doses amid […]

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South African Child Gauge tackles the slow violence of malnutrition

The Children’s Institute at the University of Cape Town (UCT) publishes the South African Child Gauge annually to review the status of children in South Africa and to inform policy and programming. The South African Child Gauge 2020 was launched on 18 February in partnership with the Department of Science and Innovation-National Research Foundation (DSI-NRF) […]

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South Africa’s health care workers eager for first vaccines

After testing thousands of people for coronavirus, South African nurse Asnath Masango says she can’t wait to get vaccinated. “So many people, I test them and within days they have passed away,” said Masango. “I want protection.” C.J. Umunnakwe, a virologist running a lab that has performed more than 40,000 virus tests, says he “wholeheartedly […]

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South Australia to end lockdown early after pizza parlour blunder

South Australia’s six-day “circuit-breaker” lockdown will be cut short, officials said Friday, blaming a pizza parlour worker who misled contact tracers about how he contracted the virus. Premier Steven Marshall indicated a tough lockdown for the state’s almost two million people would end late on Saturday, at least two days earlier than planned. Marshall said […]

Health News

South Korea reports more virus cases, Pakistan eases curbs

South Korea reported 18 new coronavirus cases Saturday after bars and nightclubs were urged to close following a spate of infections, while Pakistan bowed to economic pressure and allowed some businesses to reopen despite a surge in case numbers. The United States, Brazil and Italy also were wrestling with how to ease curbs on business […]