Question NW251 to the Minister of Health

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11 March 2021 - NW251

Profile picture: Chirwa, Ms NN

Chirwa, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Health

In light of the constant mutations of the coronavirus which poses challenges for effective vaccination, what steps has he taken to ensure that the vaccines that the Government has now ordered will be effective against the different variants of the coronavirus?

Reply:

Government is constantly engaging experts and scientists to keep abreast of any new variants that are emerging and the efficacy of the various vaccines that are currently available on the global market. This includes getting clinical and scientific advisories from relevant Ministerial Advisory Committees. Furthermore, part of our risk management strategy includes ensuring that we actively engage with various vaccine manufacturers and suppliers to ensure that the population has access to a diversity of vaccines as part of the vaccination roll-out campaign.

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has as its mandate, a responsibility to ensure that vaccines approved for use are efficacious. In this context SAHPRA requires that all vaccine manufacturers provide evidence of the efficacy of their vaccines against variants.  

END.

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