n Kaya 959 News Reporter
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAPHRA) and the National Immunisation Safety Expert Committee (NICD) reassures the public that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe to use.
SAPHRA says that Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson are safe to use in the country.
Both vaccines underwent rigorous clinical trials before being cleared for use.
Professor Hannelie Meyer of the NICD says that “Data suggests that less than 10% of those who get vaccinated will experience adverse events like headaches, fever and chills.”
SAHPRA’s Vigilance Manager Mafora Matlala reaffirms this.
Matlala says “when we look at the adverse events that we have received so far in the system, they are quite few.”
Matlala also says that the number of reported adverse events are 2000 out of 9.5 million.
“The benefits of these vaccines actually do outweigh the risks that may be out there,” says Matlala.
The monitoring of vaccines are continuous.
NICD reviews “international literature, safety databases and regulatory decisions” made in other countries.
One example of such reviews happened in April.
The USA Food and Drug Administrations communicated the finding. and vaccinations were put on hold in South Africa.
The roll-out of vaccines continued once “benefit-risk profile was still favourable.”
Mafora and Meyer are certain that the vaccines are safe for use.
But South Africans must still monitor their symptoms.
Symptoms occur in the first couple of hours as a part of the body’s immune response.
“If symptoms don’t subside within the first 2 to 3 days… or if there is something out of the ordinary that you are concerned about within the 30 days after the vaccination, then you do need to seek medial assistance,” says Meyer.
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