10% of SA population to get vaccine in early 2021, vows Ramaphosa
At least 10 percent of the South African population will have access to a Covid-19 vaccine early in the new year.
President Cyril Ramaphosa told the nation on Monday that government had made strides in ensuring the country is at the top of the list when a vaccine is available.
Last month National Treasury vowed to make close to R5 billion available for South Africa’s participation in a vaccine consortium.
Since then, the Solidarity Fund has paid R327 million towards the COVAX Covid-19 vaccine scheme.
“We are also part of the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team that is looking at alternative financing mechanisms to secure additional vaccines for African countries beyond COVAX,” said Ramaphosa.
“The Minister of Health is part of this Task Team and is also looking at innovative partnerships with the private sector to ensure that South Africans have access to an effective vaccine that is suitable to our conditions.
“The next few weeks are going to be a great test of our determination and restraint.”
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The SA Health Products Regulatory Authority has already set up a team of experts to prepare for the vaccine roll out.
But it may be a few months until it hits South African shores.
Ramaphosa said the country would have to continue relying on its healthcare sector in the meantime.
“Over the past several months, we have put in place a range of measures to enhance our capacity to respond. Through the hard work of our healthcare workers, public servants, medical experts and scientific advisors, we have marshalled all of our resources to protect the people of South Africa and provide care to those who need it.
“The measures that we took early in the epidemic, and the actions of every South African, have allowed us to save many lives already. Now, we must protect the gains we have made and work together to contain the second wave,” he added.
“As we have done since the very beginning, we must act based on the best scientific evidence that is available to us.”
Earlier this month, Pfizer-BioNTech set the bar when a 90-year-old grandmother becoming the first person to receive the Covid vaccine produced by giant pharmaceutical company in the UK.
