The vaccine from US-based biotechnology company Novavax is being trialled in a study by the University of Witwatersrand.

Professor of Vaccinology Shabir Madhi said the trial would involve 2,900 participants and would help determine whether the medications being tested elsewhere work in an African context.

Current studies show that the Novavax vaccine, when administered on non-human primates, enabled protection from Coronavirus, according to health experts.

Scores of trials are being conducted around the world with experts estimating that there could be a successful candidate in the market in 12-18 months, if everything runs smoothly.

The Novavax clinical trial is the second major trial in South Africa, another vaccine trial which started in June, a partnership between Wits University and the UK’s Oxford University, is still underway.

South Africa currently has the highest rate of coronavirus infections in Africa and some of the highest rates of confirmed cases in the world.

While the disease spread has slowed down in recent weeks, leading to an easing of even more lockdown restrictions, local health experts say there are concerns about a second wave of infections, as seen in some parts of the world.

The government is calling on citizens to continue taking the necessary precautions to prevent that from happening.