Enhancing Public Trust in COVID-19 Vaccines

Prof. Shabir Madhi

  • Duration: 60min
  • Language: English
  • Ages: All Ages
  • Date: November 09, 2021 14:30
  • Recorded: Live session with recording available afterwards
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Enhancing the public trust in COVID-19 vaccination: Progress and challenges in the regulation, administration and rollout of vaccines in South Africa

The race for countries to reach herd immunity continues globally. The prolonged Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected the social and economic standing of many nations and South Africa is no exception. While vaccines bring a glimpse of hope the reality remains, that the successful administration and rollout of Covid-19 vaccines is largely dependent on the enhanced public trust of the vaccines and related institutions. It is also appreciated that, the rise of vaccine related conspiracy theories and myths counter noble global efforts in fighting the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Join Scifest Africa for a webinar that will explore the progress and challenges related to the regulation, administration and rollout of Covid-19 Vaccines in South Africa.

The discussion will tackle the role of an enhanced public trust in attaining vaccination goals as set by government. The webinar will also investigate the projected impact of Covid-19 vaccine passports in accelerating vaccination for the South African population.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Shabir Madhi is Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Professor of Vaccinology at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; and co-founder and co-Director of the African Leadership Initiative for Vaccinology Expertise (ALIVE). Professor Madhi completed his undergraduate and postgraduate training at the University of the Witwatersrand, qualifying as paediatrician in 1996 and obtaining his PhD in 2003.

He currently also holds the positions of Director of the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytical Research Unit (VIDA) and is Research Chair in Vaccine Preventable Diseases of Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation. He currently serves as the Chair of the National Advisory Group on Immunization in South Africa and is a member of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) since 2019.

Shabir has co-authored over 460 scientific publications since 1997. His research has focused on the epidemiology, and clinical development of lifesaving vaccines against pneumonia and diarrheal disease. Over the past decade, he has focussed on vaccines being developed for immunization of pregnant women for the benefit of the women and their young infants. He is leading the first two COVID-19 vaccine studies being undertaken in Africa.