IRR booster win

9 December 2021

After applying pressure on government, booster jabs for the Covid-19 vaccination are now available for all adults. While the IRR was practically alone in calling for the ban against boosters to be lifted, all South Africans who value the freedom to choose have reason to celebrate.

On December 3 the IRR’s attorneys wrote to the Presidency, the Cogta Minister as a representative of the National Coronavirus Command Council, and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), demanding the booster ban be lifted and that simple questions be answered. Why were boosters banned for ordinary people, when would they be allowed, and on what basis was freedom of choice being denied?

Said Gabriel Crouse, “happily SAHPRA responded quickly almost two weeks ago and SAHPRA CEO, Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, gave our challenge to unban boosters her full attention. Within two weeks this translated into the ban being lifted for all adults”.

Added Crouse: “To my mind the mystery is why South Africa took months longer than other countries to lift the booster ban, even though it had been forced to admit that there was surplus vaccine stock and risks of some of it passing its use-by dates. In such a circumstance it was totally irrational to ban ordinary people from getting a booster if they want, and happily pressure resulted in action before anyone had to resort to court.”

Issued by Gabriel Crouse, IRR Head of Campaigns, 9 December 2021