Latest News & Developments
johnson and johnson
Health Minister confirms 27 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines were destroyed
The minister said the estimated monetary value of vaccines to be written off was R3. 8 billion, which was made up of R2 501 583 564 of Janssen vaccine and R 1 328 606 043 of the Pfizer vaccine.
Health group says it welcomes probe into J&J
Last week South Africa’s Competition Commission confirmed that it is investigating J&J for excessive pricing of a tuberculosis (TB) medicine, bedaquiline.
Big pharma bullied SA govt on Covid-19 vaccines, newly released contracts obtained by Health Justice Initiative show
The non-profit organisation Health Justice Initiative has released Covid-19 vaccination contracts, which show how the South African government was bullied by global pharmaceuticals and made to pay over the odds compared to wealthier countries like the United Kingdom for vaccines.
Landmark Ruling: High Court rules government must reveal ‘secret’ Covid-19 vaccine procurement contracts
The court decision gives the government 10 days to disclose Covid-19 vaccine negotiation contracts, meeting notes, and correspondence with any vaccine manufacturer or licensee, including with Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Aspen Pharmacare, Sinovac, and the Serum Institute of India.
South Africa’s ‘secret’ Covid-19 vaccine procurement comes under the spotlight in court
It is one of the first cases in the world where civil society is forcing a government to reveal the details of Covid-19 vaccine contracts made during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Millions of country’s Covid-19 vaccines is at risk as their expiration looms
At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, SA hurried to secure millions of doses of Covid-19 vaccines as it aimed to cover at least 70% of the population. Now, millions of doses are at risk of being discarded.
Second jab of J&J is 82% effective against severe disease, says Sisonke study
Researchers examined the effectiveness of a second Johnson & Johnson dose, in more than 240 000 Sisonke study health-care workers.
Blood clotting disease after J&J vaccine administration ‘extremely rare’
The SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) spokesperson Yuven Gounden said TTS is a very rare, new and specific syndrome reported with Covid-19 vaccines.
Booster shots restore vaccine efficacy, says WC health department
As COVID more variants emerge, the department says that laboratory research has shown that protection against COVID-19 infection is related to antibody levels. Further, they added that booster vaccination with the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) or Pfizer vaccine is a reliable and safe way of increasing antibody levels.
J&J vaccine boosters to be dropped off at selected Western Cape sites as roll-out begins in SA
The National Health Department announced that the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) boosters will now be made available for all eligible individuals as of today.
Covid-19 vaccination of children 'not a priority’ – top government adviser
As the caseload of Covid-19 positive children continues to grow during the fourth wave, questions are being asked about why they appear more susceptible to Omicron, and whether vaccinations should open to those younger than 12.
US authorises Covid-19 boosters for all over 18s
The US authorised the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccine boosters to all people aged 18 and older on Friday.
FDA approves booster doses, ‘mix and match’ in the US
The FDA has authorised the use of a booster dose for Covid-19 vaccines, and Americans can now choose to receive a different booster vaccine than their original inoculation.
Children over 12 now eligible to receive Covid vaccine
The South African Product Health Regulatory Authority (Saphra) on Friday approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine for the children but experts said the focus should be on the older population rather than children.
KZN on brink of 2 million vaccinations despite vaccine shortage claims
As of Saturday, the province had administered 1 745 719 first and second doses, in the public and private sector
Milestone for SA as local plant makes vaccines
Pharmaceutical company Aspen confirmed that the first supplies of the J&J Covid-19 vaccines to South Africa, from the new API source located in Europe, were released to J&J from its flagship Gqeberha-based manufacturing site on Monday