[ad_1]
Siviwe Gwarube, the district attorney, said there was obviously a lot of confusion between the differentiation of the trial, the actual launch of the vaccine, and the various phases of that launch.
“I think maybe instead of hitting each other, as members, I think it’s an opportunity for the department to clarify why if committee members are a bit confused about which is which, whether or not this is the first phase of the implementation in its entirety or a test. And, if so, then are healthcare workers well aware of this and what would be done with the second and third phase of deployment? “
ACDP MP Marie Sukers said the exchange of the words “vaccine launch” and “vaccine trial” had caused confusion among health workers.
“We cannot ignore the lack of clarity that at the beginning of administering the J&J vaccine to healthcare workers, I received messages that healthcare workers weren’t sure whether they were part of a vaccine launch or of a vaccine trial. So this needs to be addressed, ”Sukers said.
Dhlomo suggested that J&J vaccine co-principal investigator Professor Glenda Gray appear before parliament to explain exactly what has happened.
In response, Phaahla explained that the country’s original plan was that at that time SA would be launching vaccines that were procured, ordered and delivered correctly.
He said the government chose the J&J vaccine because it was found to be more effective against the new variant discovered in South Africa.
“The only option we had was to make sure that for South Africans who are a priority, in terms of our own plans, the only way those front-line workers can get protection from a vaccine that has been shown to be effective is through expansion, which has already been approved by Sahpra, ”he said.
Phaahla explained that in order for J&J and AstraZeneca to conduct human trials in South Africa, they had to submit an application to Sahpra.
“So they already have the approval. So J&J, like AstraZeneca, had already been approved for human trials … So this is the avenue that we have available and all you have to do is reach out to Sahpra and ask them to approve that we expand what you already approved. .
“Now, the only way we can expand that protection is to expand it in the form of what it has already approved, which is research or study.”
[ad_2]
