South African regulator approves Pfizer booster vaccine after surge in Covid cases

SAHPRA approved the use of Pfizer’s Comirnaty® COVID-19 vaccine after BioNTech and Pfizer announced that two doses of their vaccine may not be enough to protect against the Omicron variant

South Africa has approved the use of Pfizer’s coronavirus booster vaccine for people aged over 18 years, amid mounting concern following a record of almost 20,000 infections overnight, largely ascribed to the new and highly-mutating Omicron variant.

The South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA) on December 8 approved the use of Pfizer’s Comirnaty® COVID-19 vaccine after BioNTech and Pfizer announced that two doses of their vaccine may not be enough to protect against the Omicron variant.

It said a third dose of the vaccine could be administered to those over 18 years at least six months after their second jab, or 28 days after the second jab for those over 12 years who are severely immune-compromised.