11 Mar Pretoria High Court Judgement on COVID-19 Vaccinations
Pretoria, 11 March 2024 – On 05 January 2023, the COVID Care Alliance NPC and other applicants brought an urgent court application against the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), including the President of the Republic of South Africa and others to prevent people from being vaccinated.
The applicants wanted the court to order that all COVID-19 vaccines programs must be stopped and that all COVID-19 vaccination sections in healthcare facilities in South Africa must be closed, and the effective withdrawal from circulation of the vaccines. The applicants also sought an order interdicting the approval of vaccines for emergency authorisation or registration.
On 27 February 2024, the Pretoria High Court dismissed with costs an application filed by the applicants on the grounds that the applicants do not have the right to prevent others, who do not share in their beliefs or opinions, from being vaccinated.
SAHPRA submitted evidence to the Court to show that the applicants’ attempt to prevent government from using vaccines to address the COVID-19 pandemic was misguided, and the applicants heavily relied on hearsay and speculation, as well as supported their arguments with the opinion of persons who were not experts.