Phaala: At least 100k Pfizer vaccine doses to expire in March

The doses are due to expire at the end of March and will have to be discarded if not used on time.

Phaahla told the media briefing on Friday that the youth is dragging their feet when it comes to rolling up their sleeves to get vaccinated.

Only 34% of those between the ages of 18 to 34 have received at least one jab.

Phaahla says he’s hoping more people will come forward to vaccinate.

“We do have more than 20 million vaccine doses on stock, at the current moment we are pleased with the pickup in terms of the vaccinations as reported. There is definitely a risk that just over a 100,000 or so doses which will expire at the end of March that may have to be discarded.

So, there is that possibility, we are looking at other alternatives.

We are hoping that with various efforts, there will be more people coming for vaccination. It will be a sad day if significant amount of vaccine doses ends up being discarded, we hope it will not reach that.”

Phaahla says the government is in discussions with COVAX to take the doses before the expiry date.

“Just in terms of planning, we are looking at various strategies, through discussion with various partners including COVAX and others within the WHO partners within the continent as well. We are working at various possibilities through which there can be some kind of exchange of vaccine doses through these various platforms, so that if we see that a certain number of doses many not be utilise, we reach an agreement with a partner to take out doses and at a time when we are ready for return, we will get those back.”

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