In this episode of COVID19 CONVERSATIONS - The Podcast Series, we talk – for a second time – to Professor Linda-Gail Bekker, Chief Research Officer of the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation in Cape Town. Professor Bekker is currently serving as Co-Chair of the South African arm of the Johnson & Johnson ENSEMBLE Study. ENSEMBLE is a Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial for which interim results have just been released, with data that includes important findings from South Africa. Professor Bekker unpacks some of the numbers for us, and we talk about what makes this COVID-19 vaccine different from the others that have shown efficacy in the last few months. We touch on Linda-Gail’s own experience as a COVID-19 survivor and discuss critical questions of vaccine hesitancy, vaccine access, and the challenging work ahead.
To hear our first conversation with Professor Bekker – which took place just before the ENSEMBLE Study was launched in South Africa – please click here.
Further Reading:
· Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine trial shows protection against Covid-19 deaths and severe disease (Maverick Citizen – January 29, 2021)
· Johnson & Johnson brings another effective Covid-19 vaccine to the arsenal — in a single dose (Vox – January 29, 2021)
Producer and Host: Maaza Seyoum
Guest: Linda-Gail Bekker
Production Assistants: Vivienne Naidoo & Luis Gonzalez Kompalic
Executive Producer: Tian Johnson
Queries: info@africanalliance.org.za
