Health minister Zweli Mkhize assured MPs on Tuesday that the government was close to finalising key coronavirus vaccine deals with pharmaceutical manufacturers Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer, and would conclude agreements within a matter of days.
Addressing MPs during a debate on the government’s coronavirus vaccination plans, Mkhize said the department of health and the Treasury had finalised a proposed compensation approach. “In principle, this proposed mechanism would provide for recourse for any adverse effect suffered from any vaccine that has been approved for rollout by SA African Health Products Regulatory Authority . The minister of finance will make the announcements in his budget speech and expand on this mechanism,” he said.
J & ’s vaccine has been authorised by regulators, including Sahpra, for research but has yet to be licensed for commercial production. The US Food and Drug Administration is expected to make a decision on J & ’s vaccine within the next few weeks.