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Pfizer/Biontech COVID-19 Vaccination - updates to dosing regime and storage conditions permitted

In the last week, the National Department of Health Vaccines Ministerial Advisory Committee (VMAC) and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) have made two important announcements regarding the Pfizer-Biontech COVID-19 Vaccine

In a statement, the DoH confirmed that the VMAC has advised that the dosage interval between the two doses of Pfizer-Biontech Vaccination be increased from 21 days to 42 days.

In a letter, the Director General of Health communicated that SAHPRA has also has approved a change in the storage conditions of the Pfizer-Biontech Comirnaty (trade name) vaccine. This change extends the approved storage period of the unopened thawed vaccine vial at 2-8°C (i.e. in a vaccine fridge after taking out of deep-freeze conditions) from five days to one month (31 days).

Please note that this extension is in relation to UNOPENED vials of the vaccine.

The full announcements are attached.
View Here:
https://www.samedical.org/file/1553
https://www.samedical.org/file/1554

You may direct any questions or concerns through covid19@samedical.org

Guidelines on Management of Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopaenia - National Department of Health Guidance

Dear SAMA Membership The National Department of Health has issued a guidance circular for the management of vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopaenia (VITT)

The circular addressed diagnostic criteria, anticoagulation and other measures which may be necessary.

Members are encouraged to familiarise themselves with this guidance.

Any comments may come to SAMA to Shelley McGee at shelleym@samedical.org, or may be sent directly to the Essential Drugs Programme at E-mail: SAEDP@health.gov.za

South Africa is halfway to fully fledged vaccine manufacturing, says Biovac CEO Morena Makhoana

The Aurum Institute and PATH recently hosted a webinar titled “South Africa’s readiness to develop and manufacture vaccines at a large scale”, moderated by Maverick Citizen editor Mark Heywood. Heywood prefaced the discussion by highlighting that since the start of vaccine roll-out in South Africa, reports were already showing challenges, with demand exceeding the supply of the available vaccines. He also raised the point that there had been concerns about the many questions on local capacity to manufacture vaccines, regulations and the time required.

World Health Organization works with South African Companies to help millions quit tobacco

WHO launched a global campaign in January 2021 “Commit to Quit,” to support millions of people wanting to quit tobacco during the pandemic. Smokers are at higher risk of developing severe disease and death from COVID-19. South Africa is a focus country for the campaign, listed among the top 20 countries with the highest burden of tobacco users in the world. To help all South Africans at risk of COVID-19 WHO teamed up with Allen Carr’s Easyway to offer free online courses on quitting tobacco. The campaign has also been translated in local languages, including Xhosa, Zulu and English. All graphics are open to public use and reprint, without changes, to reach as many people as possible.

Big increase in Covid-19 hospitalisations as new lockdown looms for South Africa

South Africa reported a steep increase in Covid-19 related hospitalisations on Tuesday (25 May), another sign that the country is at the beginning of a third wave of infections. Data published by the department of health shows that there has been a 17% increase in hospitalisations compared to the seven days prior. The country’s new test positivity rate also shows a steady positive increase compared to the seven-days prior, with all nine provinces showing increases in new test positivity rates.

Covid-19: Mkhize warns third wave could hit entire South Africa

Cape Town - If the infection rate continues to rise and spread to other provinces, the entire country could be affected by the third wave, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has warned. He told the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) yesterday that some of the provinces were in the third wave. If the infections hit other provinces, the third wave would engulf the country. He called for people to continue using non-pharmaceutical interventions.

South Africa take note: Employing more nurses can slash total health costs, study suggests

A study conducted across 55 hospitals in Queensland suggests that a recent state policy to introduce a minimum ratio of one nurse to four patients for day shifts has successfully improved patient care, with a 7% drop in the chance of death and readmission and a 3% reduction in length of stay for every one less patient a nurse has on their workload. These reductions resulted in the cost savings.

South Africa braces for its third wave of COVID-19

South Africa’s first Level 5 hard-lockdown was imposed 14 months ago (27 March 2020 – 26 May 2021). For the several months that followed the global template thereafter, economic ruin for the most part became a reality. Currently in Level 1, the country is bracing for a retrograde Level 2 lockdown. In April this year the country was reporting 789 infections a week but as of today, that number has now ballooned to 2 858. Data published by the South African Department of Health indicates that there has been a 17% increase in virus-related hospitalisations compared to the seven days prior with all nine of the country’s provinces reporting increases.

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The South African Medical Association - Postal Address-The South African Medical Association P O Box 74789,Lynnwood Ridge Pretoria 0040, South Africa
Physical address The South African Medical Association, Block F Castle Walk Corporate Park Nossob Street Erasmuskloof Ext3 Pretoria 0181, South Africa www.samedical.org

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