Government set to lose billions from expired vaccines

JOHANNESBURG - The government could lose almost R4-billion from expired Covid-19 vaccines.

Over the last year, demand for the jab has dropped countrywide, leaving government with the stockpile it acquired during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

READ: Covid-19 in SA | No spike in cases but people urged to get the jab

In a written response to Parliament, Health Minister Joe Phaahla revealed that the department currently has over seven million doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Phaahla also estimates that it's sitting with over 20 million doses of Johnson and Johnson jabs worth close to R3-billion.

The department says some are set to expire in August while the rest are set to expire in February next year.