Prolonged infection in immune-compromised people is a mechanism for the emergence of Covid-19 variants, says Prof Tulio de Oliveira
Picture: 123RF/GAMJAI
“There is good evidence that prolonged infection in immune-compromised individuals is one of the mechanisms for the emergence of SARS Covid-19-2 variants,” Tulio de Oliveira, a bioinformatics professor who runs gene-sequencing institutions at two SA universities, said at an August 30 immunology conference. “You have this massive virus evolution, really the virus accumulating over 30 mutations.”
“Speed and coverage is important to make sure that people who are HIV-positive are getting vaccinated,” said Glenda Gray, president of the SA Medical Research Council and co-lead of the SA arm of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine trial. The health system is up against not just the difficulty of getting vaccines to remote areas, but also a lack of information and awareness.
When he encouraged his workers to register for vaccination, only three were willing. After bringing a nurse from the town clinic to his farm to answer questions, ranging from whether people can get vaccinated if they are HIV positive to if it will affect fertility, 93 people came forward. Even in the face of such numbers, people like Themba Maseko say their main preoccupation is unemployment — at 34.4%, SA has the highest rate of joblessness among the 82 countries tracked by Bloomberg.
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