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The South African Health Products Regulatory Council says 300 000 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine that have been cleared by US authorities, will be heading to South Africa.
SAHPRA said in a statement on Sunday that these doses meet US requirements and will be subsequently released for shipping.
“SAHPRA focuses on the quality, safety, and efficacy of all health products, including COVID- 19 vaccines, and will ensure that the safety and well-being of South Africans will not be compromised in any way,” indicates SAHPRA CEO, Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela.
The Regulatory Authority’s statement comes as the country recorded 9320 new cases as of Saturday evening, which according to authorities, represents a 16.6% positivity testing rate. The majority of cases are in Gauteng and the Western Cape.
Meanwhile, SAHPRA has still to make a pronouncement on whether the two million doses of the vaccine waiting for distribution from Aspen’s Gqeberha plant.
On Friday the Health Department said there was a real possibility that they may not be “suitable” for use in South Africa.
“There is now a real possibility that they may not be, however, this is for the regulator to rule, the Health Department said after the US Food and Drug Administration found that the vaccines produced from Emergent BioSolutions Plant in Baltimore in the US, had been contaminated.
However, two batches were cleared for distribution and 300 000 doses are coming to South Africa, SAHPRA said.
