In May, the Cape Town-based clinical research organisation, TASK, began a clinical trial to see if a common TB shot — the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine normally given to newborns — could help protect hospital workers from developing serious Covid-19.

Speaking to Bhekisisa earlier this week, TASK scientist, Caryn Upton, said the firm had brought TB Proof — an organisation advocating for protection for health workers from occupational TB — on board to consult on the trial and “also in terms of fulfilling the community engagement and [volunteer] recruitment”.

“TASK requested TB Proof not to engage on behalf of the Trial Consortium at the civil society consultation that took place on 11 June and to limit answers directly related to TB Proof’s contributions and community engagement.”

Previously, TB Proof told Bhekisisa that information about the trial was circulated on several WhatsApp groups and social media platforms reaching around 2 000 healthcare workers collectively and it held a 27 May meeting with members of the department of science and innovation, Sahpra and civil society.

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They also noted that the 13 May Sanac meeting was “only one of several steps TB Proof undertook to engage other organisations and health workers in this trial” and that they do not consider their interactions with Sanac during the meeting as formal engagement about the trial.

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