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- 200,000 doses of J&J vaccines are expected in South Africa in the next two weeks.
- Some 200,000 health workers have already been vaccinated.
- There are concerns about a possible third wave of Covid-19 after the Easter holidays.
The last 200,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine that are part of the Sisonke Ensemble study are expected in the country in the next two weeks.
Addressing the parliamentary health portfolio committee on Wednesday, Professor Glenda Gray, executive director of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and principal investigator for the J&J trials, said the vaccines would be shipped from the US.
“The vaccines were all over the world. The last number of doses, which will be 200,000, were in the US. We had to get FDA approval. [Food and Drug Administration] and the United States government to allow them to launch these vaccines because there is a global shortage of vaccines. They needed to understand that this was part of a study. These things take time and negotiations. ”
Gray said the only way out of the pandemic was to vaccinate as many people as possible.
“We have to get vaccinated to save lives.”
So far, the study has vaccinated about 200,000 healthcare workers at 72 sites across the country. The goal is to vaccinate 500,000 health workers.
Gray said that once a national deployment begins, the Sisonke sites will be used to vaccinate the population.
“From what I understand, the J&J agreement has been signed and there is a vaccine schedule available. [for a general rollout]. We can ask the health department when these vaccines will arrive. ”
He cautioned against using vaccines that have not been clinically tested locally.
Currently, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority is reviewing applications for the Sputnik V vaccines from Russia and Sinovac from China for local use.
“We need local data. We cannot extrapolate from one country to another. We must be careful,” Gray warned.
Gray said she was concerned about a possible third wave of Covid-19, especially after the Easter holidays.
“As we approach winter, a third wave is imminent. [SAMRC] give a weekly death rate and there is a slight rebound that we have to watch out for. “
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