No decision yet on vaccines for education sector, says health dept
Even though American health authorities have cleared two batches of the J&J vaccine as safe for use, SA's health department says it was still 'in discussions' as to whether to set aside 300 000 doses for teachers.
Even though American health authorities have cleared two batches of the J&J vaccine as safe for use, SA’s health department said it was still “in discussions” as to whether to set aside 300 000 doses for teachers.
Spokesperson Dr Lwazi Manzi said the department was mulling over the possibility of setting aside the thousands of vaccines for the roll-out for the education sector.
“More details on this will be shared in due course,” she said.
Last week Friday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US cleared two batches of the J&J doses as safe for use, following a probe into the alleged contamination of the batch.
While other batches have been cleared safe for use, the Aspen’s Gqeberha plant doses were set for further assessment by South African Health Products Authority to check if they were suitable for use.
In a statement last week Friday, the department flagged that there was a possibility that they may not be suitable for use.
The ingredients of vaccines used at the plant were manufactured at the plant where contamination was flagged.
National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa director Basil Manuel said the union had requested for a meeting with the health department to get an update on the vaccination programme.
Last week, Manuel announced that 500 000 doses of the J&J vaccines were secured to vaccinate teaching and non-teaching staff members.
“All employees will be allocated sites and dates for vaccination. The sites are yet to be finalised. The public sector schools will be vaccinated first; thereafter, the independent school sector will be included.”
However, then the health department said they were still in planning process of the roll-out and awaited the results from the FDA.
For months, several teachers’ unions have been calling for the vaccination of teachers. The calls intensified after the Department of Basic Education announced that learners from grades R to 7 would return to normal schooling from 26 July.
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