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(Alliance News) - South Africa will carry on with the first phase of its mass vaccination plan using a vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, Health Minister confirmed early on Wednesday, as the country also grapples with the expiry date of a suspended vaccine by AstraZenela PLC and Oxford University.
At a media briefing, Mkhize also said the country had secured doses from Pfizer Inc for the phase one rollout that gets underway sometime next week.
The government's sudden change of plan comes after a local study revealed on Friday that the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, which would have kick started the vaccination drive next week, was ineffective in mild to moderate disease of the new variant known as B.1.351 or 501.V2, which was first discovered in South Africa. This new strain is responsible for over 90% new coronavirus infections in Africa's worst hit country.
However, it is unclear whether the AstraZeneca vaccine protects against severe illness, hospitalisation and death.
South Africa last Monday received the first batch of AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines, consisting of 1 million doses from the Serum Institute in India. Serum is licenced to produce the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford.
"Given the outcomes of the efficacy studies, the Department of Health will continue with the planned phase 1 vaccination using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine instead of the AstraZeneca vaccine," Mkhize said early on Wednesday.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, he said, has been proven effective against the 501Y.V2 variant and the necessary approval processes for use in South Africa are underway.
The rollout of vaccination will proceed in the form of an "implementation study", with the partnership of the Medical Research Council and the health department's vaccination sites across the country, the health minister said.
The government is finalising an agreement with J&J to use "research stock" as first tranche, which might be offered for free or at a cost, the minister said. Health care workers will receive the first jabs as part of the first phase.
Local scientists continue to evaluate other Covid-19 vaccine candidates and "we are simultaneously engaging manufacturers", Mkhize said.
South Africa is in advanced stages of evaluating and engaging the manufacturers of Russia's Sputnik -V candidate. Engagements with Sinopharm also continue with an offer made by China currently being considered. Negotiations with Moderna Inc are also ongoing.
The AstraZeneca vaccine batch that arrived in South Africa last Monday carries an expiry date of April 30.
"The vaccines have not expired. In addition, in keeping with the original vaccination plan, if the Department of Health were to proceed with the AstraZeneca vaccine roll-out, the doses would be used up by the expiry date," Mkhize said.
The April expiry date, he said, was not discovered by accident but through the implementation of quality assurance and control protocols.
South African scientists will continue with further deliberations on the AstraZeneca vaccine use in South Africa, and depending on their advice, the vaccine will be swapped before the expiry date, the minister said.
"By exchanging unused vaccines before the expiry date, the Department of Heath will ensure that the acquired AstraZeneca vaccines do not become wasteful and fruitless expenditure," he said.
By Artwell Dlamini; artwelldlamini@alliancenews.com
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