​Lerato Mailoane and SANews
As the continent marks Africa Vaccination Week from Monday, 26 April 2021. The Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize has announced the resumption of the Johnson and Johnson (J and J) Vaccine after it was halted following concerns of its safety.
In a statement, Mkhize said South Africa will resume the J and J vaccine rollout on Wednesday in a push to vaccinate 500 000 healthcare workers through the Sisonke Programme.
According to Health Minister, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, this move comes after the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) recommendation and Cabinet concurrence.
"We're looking forward to making up for the lost time by completing this programme in the shortest possible time," said Mkhize.
South Africa paused the J&J rollout after the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) placed the vaccine on hold following reports of a rare clotting condition.
However, the United States has since lifted the ban following a thorough safety review.
"It has since been established there is a one in a million chance of getting the clot after the vaccine, and that it appears that women between the ages of 18 and 48 years old are particularly at risk. With such a low probability of developing a clot, all the regulators across the world have recommended the continued use of Johnson and Johnson," Mkhize explained.
Locally, Mkhize said SAHPRA has also added a requirement that all Sisonke participants need to be informed of this potential risk and consent to partaking in the trial with this knowledge.
In addition, SAHPRA has recommended that pregnant and lactating women be excluded from the programme at this stage.
"Having said all this, I wish to reassure you all, fellow South Africans, that it is much better to have the vaccine than to avoid taking it for fear of getting a blood clot. In fact, there are many… more cases of blood clots related to the Coronavirus itself, than the one in a million chance of getting a blood clot from the Johnson and Johnson vaccine," the Minister said.
Mkhize said the single-dose vaccine is effective, easy to use and considered safer to be vaccinated with it than not.
"Let us remember that J and J is currently the best vaccine against the 501Y.V2 variant, which is dominant in this country."
The Minister said if anyone develops headaches or abdominal pain, vomiting, blurry vision or other neurological or abdominal symptoms after receiving the vaccine, should seek medical attention immediately, as these could be signs of a Vaccine-Induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT).
People presenting with these symptoms may call the COVID-19 hotline on 0800 029 999, use the newly launched SAHPRA Med Safety App or call the Sisonke Safety Desk on 0800 014 956.