By: Natasha Archary
The SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) confirms 2000 South Africans have reported side effects after people took the Covid-19 vaccine in the country.
Manager of Pharmacovigilance at SAHPRA Mafora Matlala was speaking at a webinar educating the public on the COVID-19 vaccine safety:
According to Matlala SAHPRA are probing the reported side effects which have different categories in terms of seriousness and not-so-serious adversities.
The recent reports of South African citizens experiencing side effects after vaccinating may further affect the government’s rollout plan as fears that the vaccine is ineffective or cause side effects may increase hesitancy.
Citizens have been urged to report any side effects they might experience after taking the Covid-19 vaccines.
SAPHRA will on Friday launch an app where the public can report their concerns after immunization.
#COVID19 UPDATE: A total of 52,267 tests were conducted in the last 24 hrs, with 10,685 new cases, which represents an 20.4% positivity rate. A further 553 #COVID19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 77,993 to date. Read more: https://t.co/3lwDQPKfZv pic.twitter.com/stsCmbaM3m
— NICD (@nicd_sa) August 17, 2021
Over the past few months, more South Africans have taken an “anti-vax’ stance, holding protests in Johannesburg and Cape Town and were vocal about being forced to wear a mask and getting vaccinated.
Some held placards that spoke to the vaccine not being tested enough and being pushed on South Africans and the world as a “new world order.”
Meanwhile, the health department is ramping up efforts with the vaccine drive, setting up more drive-by vaccination sites. The health department has noted that more men are refusing to be vaccinated and have urged them to register and get the vaccine.