Health Committee Chairperson notes Sahpra’s decision on Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine
20 October 2021
The Chairperson for Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr Kenneth Jacobs, has noted the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority’s (Sahpra’s) decision not to approve Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine for use in South Africa.
In a media statement the regulator released on Monday, it raised concerns about the use of Sputnik V vaccine in South Africa due to the high prevalence of HIV. Sahpra said the vaccine may increase the risk of HIV infection among vaccinated males.
Sahpra’s decision was based on studies showing that the vaccine uses two adenoviruses in its manufacture, Type 26 (Ad26) and Type 5 (Ad5), as the delivery vehicles for the antigen. Pre-existing Ad-specific neutralising antibodies (NAbs) are present in the general population, which poses a challenge to the use of such vaccines.