By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South African health regulator SAHPRA on Wednesday approved a third or booster shot of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for adults and children over the age of 12 years, as the country braces for a fourth wave.
On 17 November 2021, SAHPRA received an application from Pfizer to amend the dosing schedule for the Comirnaty® COVID-19 vaccine, allowing an optional third (booster) dose. Following evaluation of the data submitted, SAHPRA has approved the following options:
- A third dose of the Comirnaty® COVID-19 vaccine in individuals aged 18 years and older, to be administered at least 6 months after the second dose.
- A third dose of the Comirnaty® COVID-19 vaccine in individuals aged 12 years and older who are severely immunocompromised, to be administered at least 28 days after the second dose.
The data provided only dealt with the situation of homologous boosting, where the third dose is of the same vaccine as the initial course (in this case, two doses). 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,said SAHPRA in a statement.
The regulator said it was aware of the interest in the efficacy and safety of so-called “mix-and-match” approaches and invited submission of supportive data in this regard.
Pfizer and J&J’s single shot are the mainstay of South Africa’s mass coronavirus inoculation programme, which is struggling to reach a target of vaccinating 70% of the adult population by the end of December as the new Omicron variant drives a fourth wave of infections.
The health regulator has also approved a locally manufactured Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Test.
It says the test is cheaper than existing kits, the new kit was developed by Medical Diagnostech and will be made in Cape Town.
The company has already produced initial commercial batches and it has the capacity to produce 20 million kits per year, which can be scaled up.