DA: Govt needs to secure ‘urgent’ bilateral deal to secure Covid-19 vaccine

In a statement on Sunday, Steenhuisen lauded the Western Cape government for expediting access to a Covid-19 vaccine in that province, and called on national government to do the same.

The official opposition has released a 6-point plan which it believes will speed up the procurement of a vaccine.

“More than ever before, the time has come for South African government to put the people first and to urgently secure a bilateral deal to expedite the arrival of the vaccine to our shores.  

“Waiting for the second quarter next year is not good enough, and even then, the number of initial vaccines on offer will only cover 10% of the population. 

“Government urgently begins bi-lateral negotiations, with as many other countries and pharmaceutical companies as possible and with approved vaccine suppliers in order to gain expedited access to a vaccine.”  

President Cyril Ramaphosa said in December that government expects a vaccine, procured through the Covax alliance, to land on our shores during the second quarter of the year.

But critics maintain this will only be enough to cover 10% of the population.