Thread by @miamalan

#Mkhize: [Thread] We want to use the best #CovidVaccine for SA. The #501YV2 variant has impacted on the efficacy of jabs. The results showing the impact on the #astrazenecavaccine only became available on Fri. We now know it doesn't prevent mild/moderate #COVID19 disease in SA.

https://twitter.com/DrZweliMkhize/status/1359237712805572613

#Mkhize: Government's process of procuring the #AstraZenecaVaccine started before the new results on lack of efficacy in South Africa became available.

#Mkhize: The public has concerns about the expiry date of the #AstraZenecaVaccine. The vaccine has not expired yet. The doses would have been used up by the April expiry date with our original #VaccineforSouthAfrica roll-out strategy.

#Mkhize: The expiry date was not discovered by accident, it was discovered during our quality assurance process. We're talking to the Serum Institute to exchange the batch if it expires before use in our new (delayed and two-step) vaccine strategy.

#Mkhize: Because of the drop in the efficacy of the #AstraZenecaVaccine on COVID caused by #501YV2, #VaccineRolloutSA will now proceed as an implementation study by using the Johnson&Johnson vaccine, which has been proven effective for severe disease caused by the variant.

#Mkhize: Our scientists continue to evaluate other candidates. SA is is in advance stages of evaluation of the Spudnik V vaccine from Russia and also with Sinopharm (China). We're also talking to Moderna.

#Mkhize: We won't claim back money for the #AstraZenecaVaccine from the Serum Institute because there is a drop in efficacy. We're having a meeting with the WHO later this morning to ask what to do. Some countries have asked us if they can buy our AstraZeneca doses.