Question NW532 to the Minister of Health
11 March 2021 - NW532
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
(1)(a) Whether he will furnish Ms H Ismail with a list of all the additional sites that are being used to administer the vaccines; (2) what are the reasons that children are not prioritised in the vaccine roll-out plan; (3) whether he has found that the vaccines that have already been developed will be effective against the different variants of the Coronavirus that is estimated to be 50% more transmissible; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The list of vaccination sites for the Sisonke phase 3b study is attached;
2. The vaccine has not been study in children hence we are not sure about the efficacy and safety of these vaccines in children;
3. We have good evidence from clinical trials to support the efficacy of the Johnson&Johnson vaccine against the 501Y.V2 variant. In vitro studies suggest that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are effective as well against the 501Y.V2. We are awaiting the data relating to the effectiveness of the Sinopharm, Sinovac and Sputnik V vaccines against the 501Y.V2. In terms of Astra Zeneca and Novovax the studies to date suggest these vaccines have diminished effectiveness and the Ministerial Advisory Committee does not support the use of these vaccines at this stage.
END.