Question NW1152 to the Minister of Health
04 June 2021 - NW1152
Chetty, Mr M to ask the Minister of Health
Whether, with regard to the Republic’s COVID-19 vaccine procurement that has lagged behind compared to most other emerging countries, his department has made an effort to leverage the Republic’s bilateral cooperation agreements with vaccine producing countries to procure more vaccines; if not, why not; if so, what are the further relevant details?
Reply:
The two major vaccine manufacturing countries are China and Russia. Vaccines require regulatory approval from SAHPRA. Countries cannot be the applicant and have to work through commercial entities to obtain approval. We have been in discussion with a number of companies having obtained marketing approval from the Gamaleya Institute of Russia for the Sputnik vaccine and with Numolux for the Sinovac vaccine. When all regulatory mattera have been attended to, the negotiations will progress further.
END.