As the race to produce a vaccine to tackle the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic gathers momentum, Mozambican health authorities are looking at a new possible cure: the Tuberculosis vaccine.
According to reports, health authorities in Mozambique will start conducting a study this month to assess the possibility of using Tuberculosis vaccine to combat COVID-19 infections in the country.
The research coordinator for acute respiratory infections and evasive bacterial diseases at Manhica Health Research Centre in Maputo province, Paul Tembe, said the study will be carried out among health professionals.
“These studies test a hypothesis that the vaccine may have a positive effect.
“Recent results that have emerged in the world indicating that the possibility of the Tuberculosis vaccine could have a positive effect in combating COVID-19,” said Tembe.
The official explained that the study is already funded and the centre is currently awaiting authorisation.
Mozambique is also expected to be part of a larger COVID-19 vaccine trials developed by other countries, which is already underway across the world.
“Different countries, including China and the U.S., are working to create a vaccine to end COVID-19.
“We expect our centre to be one of the institutions to be reached by the trials of these vaccines,” he said.