Cabinet welcomes recommendation to lift vaccine suspension
Updated | By Nokukhanya N Mntambo
Cabinet has welcomed the recommendation by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) to lift the suspension on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine rollout.
Government put the brakes on the vaccine programme over a week ago amid concerns about the adverse reaction of a handful of patients abroad.
South Africa had not reported any cases of clotting since the phase 3B clinical trial began in February.
Health officials have been keeping a close eye on frontliners.
Sahpra called for the suspension to be lifted under strict conditions.
But it's unclear when the Department of Health will be the programme a thumbs up again.
"The temporary suspension in South Africa was in line with government's commitment to ensure that comprehensive safety measures are undertaken regarding the vaccine roll-out. The reviewed data had confirmed that South Africa had not experienced any rare blood clots with the already vaccinated healthcare workers," said acting minister in the presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
Ntshavheni briefed media on cabinet decisions on Thursday.
She added Health Minister Zweli Mkhize would make an announcement on the way forward.
"The Department of Health will announce the commencement because when they suspended, they had to take other measures," said Ntshavheni.
In addition to the J&J vaccines, SA expects a total of 30 million Pfizer doses.
"Furthermore, Cabinet welcomed the successful negotiation of an additional 10 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which brings the total doses of the Pfizer vaccine to 30 million. This means South Africa will be able to vaccinate 15 million people with the Pfizer vaccine instead of just 10 million."
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