SANDF shipped unauthorised COVID-19 vaccines says SAHPRA
The SA National Defence Force imported the Interferon Alfa 2b drug into the country four months before applying for permission.
This was heard in Parliament when the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority briefed the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans yesterday.
The Cuban drug was procured by the SANDF in April last year, solely for their members who are employed to assist in managing COVID-19. The jabs- reported to cost about R260 million hadn't been approved for use in SA.
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SAHPRA CEO, Boitumelo Semete says around the 27th of August, they received an application for the bulk stock of the drug.
"There were no quantities, there was quite a bit of information that we required that was not provided, so once after looking at that application we then rejected it."
Also on the basis of the drug not being authorised for the use of the management of COVID-19. It then came to our attention around November that the product was imported into South Africa.
