SA authority approves Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine for children of 12 years and older

This is the first vaccine against coronavirus approved for minors in South Africa.

It comes after the first child was jabbed with one of two doses of the Sinovac vaccine on Friday, as part of the Numolux global trial. 

"The South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA) has approved the use of the Pfizer COMIRNATY Vaccine in terms of Section 21 of the Medicines and Related Substance Act 101 of 1965 (The Medicines Act) to include individuals twelve years (12) years and older.

"This was as a consequence of the review of updated safety and efficacy information submitted as conditions of Section 21 initially authorised on 16 March 2021. Section 21 of the Medicines Act is a mechanism that enables emergency use access and also enables SAHPRA to authorise the use of medicine subject to certain conditions," reads a statement by SAHPRA.

The Authority’s Nthabi Moloi told JacarandaFM News that she could not elaborate any further and that a webinar is planned for early next week.

America and various other countries have already started vaccinating children of 12 years and older with the Pfizer BioNTech vaccines.

In South Africa, 2 000 children from ages 6 months to 17 years old are part of the Sinovac vaccine global study that will include 14 000 children across the world.

The first child between the ages of 12 and 17 was jabbed at the Sefake Makgota Health Sciences University in Tshwane on Friday.

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