# The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority says the oral antiviral Covid-19 pill is not a replacement for vaccines. Sahpra chairperson Helen Rees says Paxlovid is complementary to the vaccine. Pfizer announced yesterday it would enter a deal with the global Medicines Patent Pool to sub-licence production of its Paxlovid tablet to generic drug manufacturers without receiving royalties. The oral antiviral Covid-19 medication will be made available more cheaply in poorer countries.