Sahpra says won't buckle to approve China, Russia jabs
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) says it won't be pressured into greenlighting Covid-19 vaccines.
"We understand the pressure we are under put it is important and it's paramount for us a regulator that the safety of the public takes precedence," says CEO Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela.
The regulator has been reacting to the Economic Freedom Fighters' (EFF) plans to march in Tshwane on Friday.
The party's demanding Sahpra to approve jabs from China and Russia.
Semete-Makokotlela says they're evaluating the Sinovac and Sputnik vaccines as well as the application for Beijing's Sinopharm vaccine.
She says they have to take several aspects of safety, quality, and efficacy into account.
"So wherever we are of the view that the regulatory requirements are not met, we will not issue an authorisation.
"Because we want to ensure that when you do receive a vaccine, you have confidence that this is a vaccine that is safe, that is produced using quality mechanisms and that it will be effective."
