The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has confirmed a fatality linked to the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Photo: governorandrewcuomo / Flickr
SAHPRA confirms one death from Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine
SAHPRA on Thursday, 4 August, confirmed the death of an individual linked to the COVID-19 Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has confirmed a fatality linked to the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Photo: governorandrewcuomo / Flickr
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has confirmed a fatality linked to the vaccination with COVID-19 Janssen or Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The fatal case was a result of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare disorder in which your body’s immune system attacks your nerves. SAHPRA says the case has been classified as a vaccine product-related event where the J&J jab was linked with the occurrence of GBS in the recipient of the vaccine.
The Authority reported that there were no other likely causes of GBS that were identified at the time of the recipient’s illness.
What is GBS?
SAHPRA notes that while GBS is a rare event it is severe and is associated with various vaccines and medications. It can also be triggered by infections such as COVID-19. Some of the symptoms of GBS are:
- Muscle weakness;
- Muscle pain;
- Numbness and tingling;
- Paralysis and other serious/life-threatening problems (in severe cases of GBS).
The Authority noted that GBS has varying levels and in many cases, it gets better with ‘no serious after effects’.
Has GBS always been a concern?
Cases of GBS associated with COVID-19 vaccines have previously been investigated by regulatory authorities. In July last year, 108 cases of suspected GBS worldwide were reviewed by the European Medicines Agency.
This was after around 21 million had received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. The Agency concluded that there was a possible INCREASED risk and causal relationship between this specific vaccine and the occurrence of GBS.
GBS is listed as a rare adverse event for the J&J COVID-19 vaccine.
When did SAHPRA approve the vaccine in SA?
On 31 March 2021, SAPRA approved the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for those aged 18 years old and older – as a single dose. Following this, the vaccine was approved as a single booster dose.
The national vaccine rollout started on 17 May 2021 and the J&J jab was one of those administered. To date, a massive 9 135 189 doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in South Africa.
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