Johanna (Hannelie) Meyer

Johanna Catharina Meyer is a Professor in the Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) and Head of the South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre at SMU in South Africa. She chairs the ministerial advisory National Immunisation Safety Expert Committee, and serves on the National Advisory Group on Immunisation and the Board of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked with the National Department of Health and SAHPRA to strengthen vaccine safety surveillance in South Africa, as part of the African Union Smart Safety Solutions (AU-3S) 10-year programme to strengthen pharmacovigilance across Africa. She currently chairs the AU-3S Joint Signal Management Group, aimed at facilitating cross-country signal management in Africa, to support action in the interest of public health and safety. She specialises in vaccine safety, vaccine hesitancy, vaccination as a pillar of antimicrobial stewardship, and rational medicines use. Her research aims to strengthen healthcare services, improve public health, and contribute towards reaching the sustainable development goal of good health and well-being. She is a core member of the SMU Research Ethics Committee and an active member of various professional societies.