Surgeon invests in SA vaccine plans

A US-based, South African-born billionaire surgeon has generously vowed to invest R3 billion in South Africa’s vaccine manufacturing plans.

Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong announced his plans to ramp up second-generation Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing in SA and Africa during the Sixth Access to Covid-19 tools Accelerator Facilitation Council meeting on Wednesday.

“While South Africa has not in its own right built a vaccine since 2001, that will change,” Soon-Shiong said.

“We [his immunotherapy company ImmunityBio] will commit an initial R3 billion to capitalise on this actively in SA and work with Africa so the capacity and second-generation vaccinology, cell therapy and delivery systems can be implemented.”

Not only [does SA] have the science, [it] has the human capital and the capacity and the desire.” –