Court Orders South African Government to Disclose Details of COVID-19 Vaccine Deals

Vaccine manufacturers are lobbying South African government to shield them from those seeking vaccine injury compensations.

A vial labelled “Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine” is seen in this photo taken on Jan. 16, 2022. Dado Ruvic/Reuters

On Thursday, a court in South Africa ordered the country’s health department to make public contracts it signed with COVID-19 vaccine providers, handing a victory to those who advocate against government secrecy.

By June 2023, more than 38 million COVID vaccine doses were administered in South Africa. The government obtained these shots through direct purchase, as well as through donations and COVAX, a program managed by the World Health Organization to provide vaccines donated or offered at lower prices to less-developed countries.