03 May SAHPRA Comments on ACDP court matter on vaccines for minors
03 May 2022
Embargo: Immediate release
Pretoria, 3 May 2022 – In October 2021, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP); Free the Children -Save the Nation NPC, Caring Healthcare Workers Coalition NPC, and the COVID Care Alliance NPC initiated court action against the Minister of Health and SAHPRA. The applicants asked the court for an order to stop the administration of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (“COMIRNATY”) to children between the ages of 12 and 17 years.
The case was scheduled to be heard on Thursday, 28 April 2022, but on the morning of the hearing the ACDP submitted a supplementary affidavit to the court and an amendment to their Notice of Motion. Owing to the late filing of the supplementary affidavit, the ACDP asked the court for a postponement of the matter. The court granted the postponement and ordered the ACDP to pay the legal costs of both the Minister of Health and SAHPRA.
The postponement has led to a further delay in the finalisation of this important matter, which has the potential to impact the national COVID-19 vaccination programme.