Question NW3655 to the Minister of Health
24 October 2022 - NW3655
Tambo, Mr S to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What are the details of all registered COVID-19 vaccines; (2) whether he has found that the public has access to all registered COVID-19 vaccines; if not, what steps of intervention has he taken to fulfil the mandate of equitable access to healthcare; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The Covid-19 vaccines registered by SAHPRA:
|
Name of Vaccine |
Applicant |
Registration number |
Date of registration |
|
Covid -19 vaccine Janssen (Ad 26 viral vectors) |
Janssen Pharmaceutica |
550849 |
30/03/2021 |
|
Comirnaty (m RNA) |
Pfizer Laboratories |
560002 |
25/01/2022 |
|
Coronavac (Sinovac) |
Curanto Pharma (Pty) Ltd |
560232 |
14/06/2022 |
|
COVID-19 VACCINE MC PHARMA (Sinopharm BBIP) |
MC Pharma (Pty) Ltd |
560795 |
31/01/2022 |
|
COVID-19 VACCINE LHC (Sinopharm verocell) |
LHC Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd |
560647 |
24/05/2022 |
|
Covovax (rS-protein) |
Cipla (Pty) Ltd |
561236 |
16/08/2022 |
2. Covid-19 vaccines which are part of the National Vaccine Programme are accessible to all citizens of South Africa, at both public and private sector facilities, at no cost to the vaccinee Given the breadth of the programme, the Department is thus fulfilling its mandate of ensuring equitable access to healthcare. The two vaccines available as part of the National vaccine programme are Pfizer Laboratory’s Comirnaty vaccine and Janssen Pharmaceutica’s Covid -19 vaccine Janssen. Both vaccines have demonstrated efficacy and safety based on clinical studies that have been undertaken, the results of which have been published in peer reviewed medical journals.
There is no legislation in South Africa that compels manufacturers to limit the sale of medicines and vaccines to government alone. The vaccine manufacturers may market their commodities in accordance with the Medicines and Related Substances Act, (Act 101 of 1965).
Therefore, all other vaccines registered by SAHPRA may be made available to the public should the applicant/manufacturer decide to market the vaccine. However, this is a decision that is made by the applicant/manufacturer.
The department has worked with a wide range of private providers, donors and non-government organisations to establish fixed and mobile vaccination sites, and to ensure that vaccines are available to the public.
END.