NATIONAL NEWS - THERE have been no adverse effects reported from the more than 10 000 healthcare workers who took the Covid-19 Johnson & Johnson vaccine in KwaZulu-Natal.
This was reported by Sihle Zikalala, KwaZulu-Natal Premier, on Sunday during a Covid-19 media briefing.
“Instead, these troops, who are our first line of defence against the virus, have reported a renewed sense of positivity, confidence and feeling protected against Covid-19,” said Zikalala.
The province kicked off its vaccine rollout last week Thursday when healthcare workers from the Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital were the first to receive doses of the vaccine.
“This is a major psychological boost, and a far cry from the fear and anxiety that they have been experiencing while relying on nothing but non-pharmaceutical preventative measures,” added Zikalala.
On Monday the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) issued a statement clarifying that the current vaccine rollout is the second part of the third (IIIb) phase of the completed J&J clinical trial.
“This is an implementation study in healthcare workers in South Africa who are at least 18 years of age. This study is being conducted by TOGETHER clinical trial sites in collaboration with the National Department of Health vaccination centres in South Africa.
“The vaccine is being evaluated within a rolling review regulatory framework, such that incremental information gathered from the current implementation study also supports the regulatory review of the safety and efficacy of this vaccine,” said SAHPRA.
