The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) has warned that the postponement of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) court action against vaccines for minors has led to a further delay in the finalisation of the matter, and has the potential to impact the national Covid-19 vaccination programme.

In October last year, the ACDP, Free the Children – Save the Nation NPC, Caring Healthcare Workers Coalition NPC, and the Covid Care Alliance NPC initiated court action against the Minister of Health and the Sahpra, asking the court for an order to stop the administration of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to children between the ages of 12 and 17 years.

The case was scheduled for April 28, but on the morning of the hearing the ACDP submitted a supplementary affidavit to the court and an amendment to their Notice of Motion.

Sahpra CEO Boitumelo Semete explained that owing to the late filing of the supplementary affidavit, the ACDP asked the court for a postponement of the matter.

The court granted the postponement and ordered the ACDP to pay the legal costs of the Minister of Health and Sahpra.