Health minister Zweli Mkhize
PRETORIA, Feb 6 (NNN-SANEWS) — Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, believes that South Africa is right on track to roll out its vaccination campaign, which is due to start in a few days.
Addressing Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health on Friday, Mkhize said the country is ready to give the first COVID-19 jabs to healthcare workers once the vaccines have undergone quality assurance checks.
The Minister admitted that it has been a challenging exercise to manage the issue of vaccines, as many nations scrambled to get their hands on them.
“The global demand is the same for every country throughout the whole world. Everything is happening at the same time for every country, so that creates its own dynamics.”
The Minister said the State has had to contend with the fact that not all vaccines have their efficacy results out.
However, Mkhize has assured the committee that government is on course for the vaccination programme.
He told the members that government is still committed to immunising 40 million people in the country.
He said the vaccines are currently stored at Biovac and also at centres across the country where cold chain conditions are observed.
Meanwhile, the State has beefed up security, while hundreds of healthcare workers have been trained to administer the jab.
Government has also roped in religious, traditional and civil society leaders for support.
Mkhize acknowledged that there will be hurdles as the country prepares for its largest inoculation drive, citing other countries where there have been breakages of vehicles or freezers.
He said government will continue with its phased approach, which will see healthcare workers being first in line to receive the life-saving vaccines.
Phase one, which is expected to be concluded after three months, includes everyone who deals with the sick in hospitals, clinics, universities, research bodies and traditional healers.
Mkhize encouraged frontline workers to register online for vaccination.
The second phase will include essential workers such as teachers, the police, the elderly and those living with underlying health conditions.
Government hopes to reach 16.5 million people after the first two phase of vaccination and the rest of the population will be vaccinated in the third phase.
Mkhize announced that the State is expecting to receive nine million jabs from Johnson & Johnson, 20 million from Pfizer, 12 million from COVAX.
Meanwhile, government is also engaging with China, the Gamaleya Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology in Russia and Moderna.
Meanwhile, the State is working around the clock to limit risk and prevent fraud and corruption by working with different arms of government.
“In the issue of theft, government and medical aids will pay for [the vaccine] – there should be no one paying for it.
“If there’s no payment, it limits the black market,” the Minister said. — NNN-SAnews
