Booster vaccine approved for specified groups

An optional third Pfizer (Comirnaty) booster vaccine shot was approved by the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) this week.

This is after the regulatory authority said it received an application from Pfizer to amend the dosing schedule and allow the booster vaccination for the Comirnaty vaccine last month.

In a statement, Sahpra CEO Dr Boitumelo Semete said they approved the booster vaccination for the following groups under the specified conditions:

– A third dose of the Comirnaty Covid-19 vaccine for individuals aged 18 and older to be administered at least six months after the second dose;

– A third dose of the Comirnaty Covid-19 vaccine in individuals aged 12 years and older who were severely immuno-compromised to be administered at least 28 days after the second dose.

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“The data provided only dealt with the situation of homologous boosting, where the third is of the same vaccine as the initial course – in this case, two doses,” she said.

“Sahpra is aware of the keen interest in the efficacy and safety of heterologous boosting regimens – so-called mix-and-match approaches – and invites the submission of supportive data in this regard.”

A week ago, the Institute for Race Relations (IRR) sent a letter to the presidency, Nation Coronavirus Command Council and Sahpra calling for restrictions on booster vaccinations to be lifted.

“Government owes its citizens the removal of impediments to the full realisation of informed choices about health. This is especially the case if Covid continues to linger,” the IRR’s Gabriel Crouse said.

Addressing the nation about the government’s efforts to curb the spread of the deadly virus last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the ministerial advisory committee recommended a staged introduction of boosters which would begin with the older population.

He further said that those with immunodeficiencies – such as those on cancer treatment, renal dialysis – and those on steroid treatment for auto-immune diseases were already allowed booster doses at the recommendation of their doctors.

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