KIU, Main Campus – In October, officials at the Ministry of Health said Uganda would start its first COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials this month, November. However, this plan now faces hindrance following a new requirement for the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) to submit another protocol.

According to Prof Pontiano Kaleebu, the UVRI director, they were no longer sure of the time when the clinical trial will start, saying that the requirement to submit a new protocol for the trial was due to changes in dosage of the vaccine developed by partner, Imperial College London.

"We are modifying the protocol before we can submit to the committee for approval. So I can't give the timeline when the clinical trial will start," Prof Kaleebu said.

Apparently, the dosage of a vaccine affects the level of the immunity that a recipient develops after the injection.

The research protocols involving human beings are approved by the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology and the National Drug Authority (NDA).

Global participation in clinical trials for vaccines is viewed by experts as the fastest way to avail a safe and effective COVID-19 remedy for the entire world population. Clinical trial for COVID-19 vaccine in other countries is still ongoing.