South Africa has recorded the most coronavirus infections on the African continent, and to curb the spread of Coronavirus, Minister of Health,Dr Zweli Mkhize announced that the vaccine will be arriving in South Africa soon.
The minister recently tweeted: #ListenToTheExperts The Covax vaccine is to be delivered to South Africa by the first half of 2021. So who gets it first? We asked the chairperson of the ministerial advisory committee, Prof Salim Abdool Karim.
The Covax vaccine programme is the global initiative aimed at working with vaccine manufacturers to provide countries worldwide with equitable access to safe and effective vaccines.
Up to six million South Africans, or 10% of the population will be first in line to receive the Covax vaccine and priority will be given to four groups of people.
Chairperson of the Ministerial Advisory Committee Professor Salim Abdool Karim revealed that the vaccine will be delivered to the country within the half of 2021.
The four groups to first receive the jab will be:
1. Healthcare workers
2. The elderly who are aged 75 years and older, as well as the staff who care for those in old age homes. People with comorbidities will also be prioritised.
3. Essential workers and personnel needed to maintain essential services in the country.
4. Persons who are institutionalised including prisoners
“Since we expect that we will not be able to get very large quantities of the vaccine initially we have to prioritise,” said Karim in a video posted on Health Minister Zweli Mkhize’s Twitter account.
