Unlike its refund from AstraZeneca after rejecting vaccines from the company despite initial down-payments, the South African government has revealed that its procurement of Johnson & Johnson vaccines come with stricter clauses.
South Africa has since halted innoculations with Johnson & Johnson vacccines after some patients began showing after symptoms.
Minister of Health, Dr. Zweli Mkhize noted that the procurement of J &J and Pfizer vaccines have come with non-refundability clauses ensuring money will not be returned under any circumstance.
Locals have raised concerns about the complete effectiveness of the vaccines, as the United States government has also put J & J vaccines on hold.
Recent trials of the Pfizer vaccine have posed questions about its potency but the company refuted the concerns raised saying they do not affect its viability against COVID-19.
Mkhize on Wednesday said that the clause is another onerous term that the country has had to settle for. In a virtual meeting with a parliamentary committee, he disclosed that South Africa is paying $10 per dose for the J&J and Pfizer vaccines.
South Africa is the continent’s most affected country and one that has managed the disease best so far, with options of having an Africa-made vaccine being considered.
