COVID-19 vaccine in SA: All you need to know
The South African Medical Association says while they note the UK's approval of one of the COVID-19 vaccines - our government shouldn't rush to order the drug.
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has given the go-ahead for the use the jab that Pfizer and BioNTech have developed together.
The two companies say it was found to be 95% effective.
That government plans to roll-out 40 million doses of the drug to the public from next week, starting with residents of care homes and those who look after them.
Pfizer and BioNTech say they have sent their findings to other countries with the view of rolling out the vaccine globally.
But SAMA Chairperson, Dr Angelique Coetzee says South Africa has some time to consider the options. " In South Africa, we still have the luxury of sitting in the waiting room to see which vaccine will come in at a cheaper price, better logistics.
READ: UK approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for rollout from 'next week'
"I think if the government can bide their time and wait for vaccines that are still coming into the market it would be very soon. We can then see which would be more appropriate in the SA condition."
She says the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine poses logistical concerns with cold-chain shipping. "The problem is that didn't give us the degree in where it should be stored and also during shipping," she said.
"That might propose a huge problem as we all know that cold change is one of the most important things if you want to vaccinate someone. So if you break that cold chain you actually vaccinate someone with an inactive vaccine."
The World Health Organisation says there are over 200 vaccine candidates, with 49 of them in clinical evaluation phases.
