Month: October 2021

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) on Friday approved vaccine booster doses for all healthcare workers who received the first shot as part of the Sisonke Study.

This comes after the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a second dose of the J&J vaccine for all Americans 18 years and older who received a single dose.

Early this year, the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), working with the National Department of Health (NDoH), Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, CAPRISA, and the pharmaceutical company came together to provide early access to the single-dose Ad26COV2.S vaccine also known as J&J.

Meanwhile, a new trial has since evaluated a booster dose given at least two months after the first dose in 31 300 participants from more than nine countries.

According to the data, vaccine efficacy against the disease was 94% in the US and 75% globally.

At a global level, vaccine efficacy was 100% against severe disease and critical disease.

“In this study, two doses were safe and usual vaccine side effects were reduced following the second dose,” the SAMRC said.

At home, 496 424 health workers received a dose of this vaccine to evaluate its effectiveness between 17 February and 17 May 2021.

“By rolling out the Sisonke Study, we bought valuable time for healthcare workers, and were able to protect them four months ahead of the national rollout and ahead of the Delta driven third wave,” said one of the co-national principal investigators of the study, Professor Glenda Gray.

Sisonke showed that the J&J vaccine was safe, easy to administer and provided good protection against severe disease and death.

The single-dose regimen has since been administered to other essential workers like educators, police officers and those living in rural locations.

In addition, more than 5.2 million people in South Africa have received at least one dose of J&J to date.

According to the SAMRC, booster shots are becoming available in many parts of the world.

“Scientific evidence on the progressive decrease of immunity and the need for booster doses is evolving and some countries have decided to offer booster doses to certain high-risk populations like the elderly and health workers or other frontline workers.”

The SAMRC said increasing coverage of first doses to reduce hospital admissions and deaths during a fourth wave remains a top priority since only 30% of eligible adults have been fully vaccinated.

The research organisation said the results will be used to guide future decisions regarding boosters.

“We are in the final stages of approvals from the regulators and ethics review committees, and vaccination will be open to all health workers, including pregnant and breastfeeding women who received a first dose of the J&J vaccine.”

However, the frontline workers who have received “unauthorised” booster doses of Pfizer after the J&J vaccine are encouraged not to take part in the research due to insufficient safety data.

The Department of Health’s Acting Director-General, Dr Nicholas Crisp said: “Vaccines remain our most powerful weapon in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and our priority remains the most vulnerable groups, especially senior citizens or adults who live with compromised immunity in the majority, ahead of a fourth wave”.

Health workers who participated in Sisonke will receive an invitation by SMS on the number they used to enrol for the first part of the study.

Enrolment will be through the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) and the boosters will be offered from the week of 8 November at selected sites to be announced soon.

Source: South African Government News Agency

World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa Regional Director, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, says the COVAX facility is working to secure agreements for the production of syringes as shortages loom.

She was speaking during the organisation’s press briefing on the continent’s fight against COVID-19.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) the world faces a shortfall of “up to 2.2 billion auto-disable syringes” for COVID-19 vaccination and routine immunisation in 2022.

Moeti said although COVID-19 vaccine shipments have increased on the continent, the looming threat of syringe shortages could “paralyse progress” in the vaccination of communities.

“Already some African countries…have experienced delays in receiving vaccines and unless drastic measures are taken to boost syringe production, Africa faces a crisis.

“Syringe production both globally and locally in Africa, must be stepped up fast – countless African lives depend on it. The COVAX facility has been working to address this problem by securing agreements with manufacturers for the needle syringes and through better planning to avoid delivery [of vaccines] outpacing the supply of syringes,” she said.

According to Moeti, the UNICEF shortfall of up to 2.2 billion auto-disable syringes for COVID-19 vaccination and routine immunisation in 2022.

Africa’s fight against COVID-19

Moeti said 29 300 new COVID-19 cases were reported on the continent which indicates a 30% drop in new cases compared to last week.

However, ten countries are facing a resurgence of the virus.

In total, the virus has claimed more than 217 000 deaths and nearly 8.5 million cases have been reported

She says at least 77 million or 6% of people on the continent have been fully vaccinated – a far cry from higher income countries who have vaccinated more than 40% of their populations.

She said this, in part, points to some African countries needing to improve their readiness for vaccination rollouts.

With 50 million doses arriving in Africa this month alone and more expected to arrive, Moeti said the WHO is assisting African countries to step up their roll out plans.

“The WHO is conducting emergency support missions to help support five countries that are lagging behind, speed up and improve speed up and improve their COVID-19 rollouts with plans for missions for another 10 countries. Our experts are working with local authorities and partners on the ground to address the reasons for any hold ups and how best to address them,” she said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

To encourage more South Africans to get the COVID-19 vaccine, various companies and foundations have come on board to help boost vaccination rates by providing various incentives.

Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, said adults over the age of 60, who take the vaccine in November, will be rewarded with a R100 grocery voucher after taking their jab.

The Minister on Friday announced that the pilot scheme was valued at R26 million to benefit 260 000 pensioners.

“This will be on a first-come, first-serve basis,” he said.

The Minister explained that the voucher will be texted to the cellphone number senior citizens registered with on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS). Coupons will be redeemable at Shoprite, Checkers and Usave stores.

Pensioners will automatically get an invitation to receive their vouchers. However, due to the Protection of Personal Information Act or POPI Act, they will have to opt-in, by dialling “YES” at no cost to the user upon receiving an SMS.

“By dialling in, they’ll then be given access to the Money Market account of Shoprite, which protects their money. They cannot lose their voucher and once they’ve registered, that money is available to them.”

The Minister told journalists that the DG Murray Trust, Alan Gray Financial Services, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Elma Vaccines Foundation, Michael, and Susan Dell Foundation have sponsored the grocery vouchers.

“We hope the pilot will be a success so that it can encourage other companies to come forward. We welcome other initiatives which are still being considered.”

Meanwhile, Nando’s has offered 1 000 vouchers valued at R500 each which will be awarded to members of 15 best performing teams at vaccination sites on Election Day, 1 November.

In addition, Uber has also offered free rides up to R100 each for health workers who will be on duty on the same day.

Update on vaccination programme

The Minister remains confident that government would have reached 40% coverage of all adults with the vaccination by mid-November.

“We’re also happy that we see much steadier and consistent return for the second dose of Pfizer. So, this is not a major worry, as much as it was pointed out previously since a lot more people are returning.”

In addition, the Minister said the country is getting closer to the 70% of coverage of the adult population. He said he was hopeful about reaching 70% of the over 60-age group and the 50 to 59 years cohort by the end of December.

“We again urge everyone to take advantage of the current low levels of infection to come forward to receive the vaccination before the expected fourth wave hit our shores.”

According to the Minister, the vaccination of 12 to 17-year-olds is proceeding steadily, with 99 900 having already vaccinated by Thursday and 183 700 teenagers registered.

“We expect the numbers to pick up during the school holidays,” he said.

This means that South Africa has now administered over 22 million vaccine doses with 15 078 053 individuals with at least one jab which is 37.9% of the adult population.

In addition, 12 140 701 or 30% of the adults are now fully vaccinated.

On the vaccination certificates, the Minister said over 2.8 million had been downloaded so far.

“I wish to again urge all South Africans to heed the call to protect themselves, their families, friends, neighbours and co-workers now by taking the vaccine, the nation’s future is in your hands.”

He also called on citizens to keep safe ahead of the local elections.

“Let’s vaccinate before, on Election Day and after it,” said the Minister.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, has announced that 1 000 voting stations in South Africa will have pop-up vaccination sites on Election Day, 1 November.

Addressing the media on Friday, the Minister told the journalists these sites will target mainly areas where the uptake of vaccination has been low.

“We hope that this arrangement will offer convenience in that people will have travelled from their homes and they’ll achieve both their vote and vaccination in one trip.”

The Minister, who was addressing the media briefing on government efforts in the fight against COVID-19 and the national vaccination rollout programme, welcomed the support of political parties.

According to Phaahla, no organisation has raised any objections for the public to be able to have another opportunity to receive a vaccination closest to their voting stations.

“The sites will be set up in the voting precinct but outside the area demarcated strictly for voting so that they don’t interfere with the main purpose of the day which is voting.”

In addition, Phaahla said the one-dose Johnson & Johnson will be the main jab used to avoid people from going back for their second shot.

However, Pfizer jab will be available if an individual prefers it or they are due for a second dose.

“We thank our health workers who raised their hand to be on duty on this day.”

He also expressed his gratitude to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) authorities for their support and cooperation.

“We are happy to announce that Nandos Chicken has donated R500 000 as an incentive for health care workers for a small competition on Election Day.”

In addition, Nandos is offering 1 000 vouchers valued at R500 each which will be awarded to members of 15 best performing teams in each province.

This means 135 teams will be spread equally in all provinces, which stand a chance to benefit with each team member receiving the R500 voucher.

In addition, Uber has also offered free rides up to R100 each for health workers who will be on duty on Election Day.

“We appreciate every form of incentive which encourages people to vaccinate.”

The Minister said the lists of pop-up vaccination sites will be available on South Africa’s official Coronavirus and departments’ websites.

IEC’s Janet Love thanked the Department of Health and the medical experts for working closely with their organisation to enable navigate the elections.

In terms of operations, she said all voting stations will make provision for personal protective equipment, hand sanitisers at the moment of PPE provisioning, for every voting station, hand sanitisers, disposable bins with lids and disinfectants for surfaces.

In addition, she said every official will be wearing a mask and is encouraging every voter to do the same and sanitise their hands at different stages.

“Certainly before entering the voting station, masks are compulsory and that we keep our distance to the 1.5 metres to every extent possible.”

The IEC has also made provision for the special vote that will kick start on Saturday until Sunday and said similar protocols will apply.

“The voter will be asked to wear a mask if possible, their hands will be sanitised and the indelible ink will be applied with a disposable cotton bud.”

Source: South African Government News Agency

South Africa has recorded 533 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 2 921 114.

The Department of Health said the latest figures represent a 1.7% positivity rate.

The department said a further 55 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported, bringing the total fatalities to 89 104 to date.

“There has been an increase of 30 hospital admissions in the past 24 hours,” the department said on Thursday.

According to the department, 18 471 818 tests have been conducted in both the public and private sectors.

In the private sector, 9 953 474 tests have been conducted, while 8 518 344 tests were conducted in the public sector.

The majority of new cases are from Gauteng (28%), followed by KwaZulu-Natal accounting for 17%.

The Western Cape accounted for 14% of the new cases, Free State 10%, Northern Cape 8%, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga 7% each, North West 5% and Limpopo 4%.

The cumulative number of cases by province is Gauteng 150, Eastern Cape 36, North West 27, Free State 53, Northern Cape 40, Limpopo 23, Mpumalanga 35, Western Cape 76 and KwaZulu-Natal 93.

The department reminded the nation to always adhere to preventative measures to limit the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 by getting vaccinated for COVID-19; wearing a mask properly to cover the nose and mouth; opting to gather in ventilated spaces; avoiding unnecessary gatherings; keeping a social distance of one meter or more and washing hands regularly with soap and water.

Source: South African Government News Agency