Health Minister Joe Phaahla has revealed that South Africa
has discarded about 5% of COVID-19 vaccine doses in both the public and private
sector as of March 13 because they are not suitable to be administered.
According to Phaahla, the cost of the vaccines that have
been wasted is estimated at R230 million and the expired stock is standing at
R70m.
The Minister was responding to parliamentary questions from
IFP MP Magdalena Duduzile Hlengwa and DA MP Haseena Ismail.
Hlengwa and Ismail enquired about the number of COVID-19
doses that was wasted to date and the cost of expired medication and wasted
vaccines, as well as a plan to manage the supply of vaccine doses to match the
demand.
In his response, Phaahla said the estimated losses were
calculated using the number of doses distributed less than the current stock on
hand and doses administered.
“The estimated losses based on the stock on hand data
available is R230 570 550 in total, which accounts for 4.5% of the value of all
doses distributed.
“The 4.5% estimated wastage is within the WHO indicative
wastage of 10%,” he said.
Phaahla noted that the calculation of wastage per province
was difficult to estimate because of non-adherence to reporting requirements at
vaccination sites and movement of doses across provincial boundaries especially
in the private sector.
“Wastage in unopened vaccine vials is considered avoidable.
The programme should aim to prevent this type of wastage, often due to poor
stock control practices, cold chain, or vaccine handling processes.”
Phaahla explained that no vaccines stored at the central
warehouses had exceeded the manufacturers’ expiry date when stored at minus
70ºC for Pfizer and minus 20ºC for J&J.
He said when vaccines were thawed for use and stored at 2-8 ºC prior to administration, the manufacturers’ shelf life was reduced to 31
days and 135 days for Pfizer and J&J respectively.
“Based on the information available as of March 13, 2022, the
current total wastage is estimated to be 4.9% of doses delivered.”
The wasted doses, including expired stock, consisted
of 138 804 doses in the private sector and 341 583 doses in the public sector, Phaahla said.
