Vaccine site numbers increased as government ramps up vaccination drive
Ramaphosa himself has received a Covid-19 vaccination, and he noted: “From a vaccine availability point of view, I would like to say we will be secured.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the number of vaccination sites in the country are to be expanded from 17 to 49 next week.
The President addressed the country on Sunday on the latest developments in the fight against the Coronavirus.
His address came as the country marked one year since the confirmation of the first case of Covid-19 and hot on the heels of the arrival of a second batch of vaccines on Saturday.
In the first 10 days of vaccines begin administered in the country, more than 67 thousand health care workers were vaccinated.
“The start of our vaccination campaign has gone extremely well,” said Ramaphosa.
“It has shown what we can achieve when we work together as government, the scientific community, and the private sector.”
He added: “All provinces have established vaccination sites and have put in place plans for the expansion of the programme as it gains momentum”
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The 49 vaccination sites will comprise 32 at public health care facilities and 17 in the private sector and will include sites in rural areas.
"Once the vaccination of healthcare workers has been completed, we will begin with phase two of the vaccine roll-out in late April or early May,” said Ramaphosa.
Phase two will include the elderly, essential workers, persons living or working in institutional settings, and those with co-morbidities.
“For this phase, we will be activating many more sites for vaccination in the public and private healthcare sector so that we can reach as many people in the shortest possible time,” he noted.
The President stressed that a comprehensive approach was needed to combat Covid-19, including the wearing of masks, social distancing, and sanitizing.
However, he insists: “Vaccines are now the most effective measure that we have.”
The President said government has signed an agreement with Johnson & Johnson to secure 11 million doses.
Of these doses, 2.8 million doses will be delivered in the second quarter and the rest spread throughout the year.
“We have also secured 20 million doses from Pfizer, which will be delivered from the second quarter,” he noted.
“Additionally, we have secured 12 million vaccine doses from the COVAX facility and are in the process of finalising our dose allocation from the African Union. We are in constant contact with various other vaccine manufacturers to ensure that we have the necessary quantities of vaccines when we need them.”
Ramaphosa himself has received a Covid-19 vaccination, and he noted: “From a vaccine availability point of view, I would like to say we will be secured."
