The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has approved changes to the storage conditions for the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, allowing it to be stored in a refrigerator for a month. This extends the shelf life of the doses six-fold – from five to 31 days – and will help to speed up the country’s vaccine roll-out because it means simpler logistics, cheaper equipment and less waste.
In a circular issued on 21 May, the Health Department instructed vaccination sites to follow the new guidance with immediate effect, also with regards to batches that have already been distributed.
The updated storage conditions follow similar approvals last week by the European and American regulatory bodies – the European Medicines Authority (EMA) and the Food and Drug Administration – based on new data provided by Pfizer.
New data confirms the lifespan
of a Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in a bar fridge is 31 days, not 5 as originally
estimated
Adopting this storage policy would result in simpler logistics for site
managers, faster immunisation coverage, cheaper equipment and less waste
South Africa’s regulatory body has approved the change in storage
conditions and the health department sent out a circular on May 21 informing
vaccination sites that unopened, thawed Pfizer vials can be now stored in a fridge
for up to 31days.
South Africa’s medicines regulatory body, the
South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra), has approved changes to the storage conditions for
After South Africa suspended the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the Economic Freedom Fighters urged “better” jab options. But as Africa Check explains, there really is no need to compare.
Prof Quarraisha Karim going to the UN
By Thobeka Ngema
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DURBAN - PROFESSOR Quarraisha Abdool Karim of the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in SA (Caprisa) has been chosen as one of 10 eminent scientists and researchers to advise the UN on unleashing the power of technology for development.
Karim is an infectious diseases epidemiologist, professor in clinical epidemiology at Colombia University, pro-vice chancellor for African Health at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, UNaids special ambassador for adolescents and HIV, and co-chairs the UNaids advisory group to the executive director, executive group member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Covid-19 Solidarity Therapeutics Trial and the WHO Covid-19 Solidarity Vaccines Trial.
Russian and Chinese Covid-19 jabs better? South Africa’s EFF wrong to compare vaccines
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Countries around the world have been racing to vaccinate their populations against Covid-19. South Africa’s programme started on 17 February 2021. By 10 May, it had vaccinated 395 230 people or 0.7% of its population.
But in April, South Africa suspended the rollout of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This was due to a joint advisory by the US Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control that detailed six cases of blood clotting in women who had received the vaccine.