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Thapelo Lekabe
Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize. Photo: Jacques Nelles
Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize says that the government has also obtained doses of Pfizer for the implementation of phase one.
Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize says the Department of Health will continue to launch the planned phase one vaccine using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine instead of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
This after the government said on Sunday it would temporarily halt the release of AstraZeneca’s vaccine to healthcare workers after preliminary data from a clinical trial found it provided minimal protection against mild to moderate infection caused by the South African dominant 501Y.V2 variant.
ALSO READ: AstraZeneca is less effective against South African virus strain
Reporting to the media Wednesday morning, Mkhize said that the J&J vaccine has been shown to be effective against the 501Y.V2 variant. He said the necessary approval processes by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) for the use of the vaccine were underway.
The minister also said that the government had also obtained doses of Pfizer for phase one.
“Our scientists continue to evaluate other candidates and we are simultaneously engaging manufacturers,” Mkhize said.
He added that the government was also in advanced stages of evaluating and involving Russia’s Sputnik-V vaccine makers.
“Commitments to Sinopharm also continue and an offer from China is currently being considered. A confidentiality agreement has been signed and ratification processes at Sahpra are ongoing. Likewise, our commitments to Moderna are ongoing and we will make more announcements, as we always do, when we are in a position to do so, ”he said.
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