Question NW2633 to the Minister of Health
22 September 2023 - NW2633
Yako, Ms Y to ask the Minister of Health
Whether 23% of the acquired Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines in stock will be destroyed by his department as the vaccines are nearing their expiry date; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) is the monetary value of the vaccine that will be destroyed and (b) steps will he take to avert such waste?
Reply:
Yes, unused Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines have been destroyed. Doses of vaccine doses that are yet to expire will also be destroyed.
A total of 70 573 820 does of COVID-19 vaccines were acquired, either as a donation or purchased in line with the bilateral agreement.
- For Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, 453 600 doses were received as a donation and 30 848 000 doses were purchased.
- Similarly, for Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, 7 877 610 doses were received as donation and 31 million doses were purchased.
- 76 800 doses of Paediatric Pfizer vaccine were received as a donation.
To date, 27 536 318 doses have been destroyed, i.e. 20 643 322 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and 6 892 996 doses of Pfizer vaccine.
This is 39% of all doses that were acquired and includes both donated and purchased doses.
a) The estimated monetary value of vaccines to be written off:
- Jannsen vaccine = R 2 501 583 564
- Pfizer vaccine = R 1 328 606 043 (value of donated vaccine written off)
b) Steps to avert such waste
- There is no possibility of any further extension of shelf life of the vaccines from manufacturers and SAHPRA.
- Covid-19 vaccination has been integrated into routine health services.
- The NDoH continues to promote vaccinations to the public until the last dose expires. Various demand creation strategies including vaccinating hard to reach communities through outreach services have been implemented to increase uptake of the vaccine.
END.