The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has recommended that the government lifts the pause on administering Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, when certain conditions are met.
It says they include strengthened screening and monitoring of participants who are at high risk of a blood clotting disorder.
SAHPRA says measures are to be implemented to ensure the safe management of any participants who develop vaccine-induced thrombosis and thrombocytopenia.
SAHPRA says it recently reviewed data from Johnson & Johnson’s local research study immunising healthcare workers and found no major safety concerns.
Minister Zweli Mkhize briefs South Africans on the Johnson and Johnson vaccine:
Last Tuesday, South Africa suspended the rollout of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the “implementation study”.
This after US health agencies recommended pausing its use because of rare cases of blood clots in six people inoculated with it, out of some seven-million people who have received the shot in America.
Reaction to SA’s decision to temporarily halt J&J vaccine rollout:
