Andy Gray COVID-19 has raised public awareness about the role of national medicines regulatory authorities in enabling access to safe, effective and quality-assured medicines. This includes vaccines. In South Africa, the pandemic has also exposed a number of important misperceptions, among the public and health professionals. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority is responsible for monitoring, […] A man receives a Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a clinic in Belgrade on January 13, 2021. (Photo by Vladimir Zivojinovic / AFP)
In South Africa, the pandemic has also exposed a number of important misperceptions, among the public and health professionals.
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority is responsible for monitoring, evaluating, investigating, inspecting and registering all health products. These include me
Immunisation is a global health and development success story, saving millions of lives each year
Vaccines reduce the risk of getting a disease by working with the body’s natural defences to build protection blocks. Globally, there are many vaccines to prevent life-threatening diseases, helping people of all ages live longer and healthier. Immunisation currently prevents 2-3 million deaths every year from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza and measles.
Access to quality immunisation as part of a healthcare system is an indisputable right. Vaccines are also critical to the prevention and control of infectious-disease outbreaks. Yet despite tremendous progress, far too many people – including nearly 20 million infants each year – have insufficient access to vaccines. In a highly populated, resource-constrained country like Pakistan, universal immunisation must be the cornerstone of an effective public health strategy.
Advocates for medicines that are unregistered in South Africa have accused the regulatory authority of not being proactive in bringing such products to market and approving their use.
The Covid-19 vaccination programme will be launched in Makhanda on Wednesday 10 February. Hospital staff are the first in line, with other high-risk health workers to follow.
Meanwhile, dozens of private and public health workers from the Department of Health’s Makana District (which includes Ndlambe) this week attended training sessions in Makhanda on administering the AstraZeneca Oxford University Covid-19 vaccine.
One million Covid-19 vaccines from the Serum Institute of India arrived in South Africa on Monday, with a further 500 000 due to arrive later this month.
Department of Health sources told GMDirect that vaccination could begin in Makhanda as soon as Wednesday. However, a sample from every batch must first be tested by the National Control Laboratory at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Monday said this testing was expected to be completed only by 12 February and it’s not clear how this will be fast-tracked.