The national Health Department has announced that the sale of the million AstraZeneca vaccine doses to the AU has been concluded, reports TimesLIVE. The vaccine — procured by South Africa earlier this year – was found to have limited efficacy against mild and moderate disease caused by the COVID-19 variant dominant in the country.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in a statement on the Politicsweb site:
Dr Zweli Mkhize, is pleased to announce that the sale of the Astra Zeneca vaccines that we had acquired has been concluded.
In the past weeks the department has had to ensure that all member states identified by the AU vaccine acquisition team as recipients of the vaccines, are compliant and have obtained all regulatory approvals, permits and licenses to roll out the vaccines in their respective countries.
The Minister can confirm that the full purchase amount was received by the department on Monday last week. The AU and South African teams then ensured that all logistical arrangements are in place for the shipment of the vaccines.
The Minister is pleased to announce that the first batch of vaccines that is being delivered will benefit 9 member states. The balance will be collected this week to be delivered to 5 other countries.
[link url="https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2021-03-21-its-official-sa-has-sold-its-batch-of-astrazeneca-vaccines-to-the-au-mkhize/"]Full TimesLIVE report (Open access)[/link]
[link url="https://www.politicsweb.co.za/documents/astra-zeneca-vaccines-sold-off–zweli-mkhize"]Full statement on the Politicsweb site (Open access)[/link]
See also MedicalBrief archives:
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/south-africas-astrazeneca-vaccine-now-on-half-price-sale/"]South Africa’s AstraZeneca vaccine now on ‘half-price’ sale[/link]
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/debate-continues-over-sas-ditching-of-the-astrazeneca-vaccine/"]Debate continues over SA’s ditching of the AstraZeneca vaccine[/link]
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/madhis-plea-to-government-dont-waste-the-astrazeneca-vaccine/"]Madhi’s plea to government: Don’t waste the AstraZeneca vaccine[/link]
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/political-blows-to-astrazeneca-vaccine-may-boost-vax-hesitancy/"]Political blows to AstraZeneca vaccine may boost vax hesitancy[/link]