Question NW3052 to the Minister of Health
11 October 2023 - NW3052
Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health
(1)Whether there are ongoing studies on the adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccines; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether donor blood is tested for COVID-19 vaccinations and labelled as such; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether there have been reported cases of patients reacting negatively to vaccinated blood in the medical sector, including the Republic; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what is the position of citizens who wish to access unvaccinated blood due to medical and religious reasons?
Reply:
1. Applicants are required to submit safety data on vaccines before they are registered by regulatory authorities (SAHPRA in the case of South Africa). Once registered manufacturers and regulatory authorities are required by law to conduct post-marketing surveillance of adverse events following immunisation, and to update or amend registration and product information based on this surveillance.
In addition, health care workers and the public are encouraged to report adverse effects following immunization to SAHPRA. After notification, provincial authorities investigate each case in a systematic manner and provide results to the National Immunisation Safety Expert Committee (NISEC). Experts on this committee evaluate each case to determine causal associations with vaccines. Results of these case evaluations are reported on the SAHPRA website https://aefi-reporting.sahpra.org.za/.
2. No. There is no scientific reason nor evidence to support the notion that exposure to COVID vaccine through a blood transfusion can cause harm to the person who receives the blood. As a result, donated blood is not routinely tested to determine whether it contains COVID vaccine.
3. There are no reported cases of patients reacting negatively to blood as a result of the donor having received a COVID vaccine. Blood donated by vaccinated and unvaccinated persons is processed and made available to potential recipients using the same standardised safety and other procedures.
END.