South African Regulators Reject Covid 19 Vaccine

South Africa’s health products regulator on Monday said it would not approve Russia’s Sputnik V Covid 19 Vaccine due to concerns it could increase the risk of HIV infection among men. The decision was based on earlier studies testing the safety of a

modified form of adenovirus — a type of virus that causes respiratory infections — known as the Ad5 and contained in the Russian jab.Use of the Sputnik V Vaccine in South Africa, a setting of a high HIV prevalence and incidence, may increase the risk of vaccinated males acquiring HIV.

It noted that the company behind the application for the use of Sputnik V in South Africa had no proof the formula would be safe “in settings of high HIV prevalence”.It added that The rolling review of the Sputnik V Vaccine will, however, remain open for submission of relevant safety data in support of the application.

Russia’s Gamaleya Centre, which developed Sputnik V, said it would produce information to show that SAHPRA’s concerns were completely unfounded.In a statement they added that the Speculation regarding the association between adenovirus type-5 vectored Vaccine and HIV transmission in high risk groups has been based on small-scale studies.