South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country will soon receive its first consignment of Covid-19 vaccines from India’s Serum Institute, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, reported Business Tech.
In his weekly open letter to the public, Ramaphosa said that the vaccine consignment will signal the beginning of a mass vaccination campaign that will be the most ambitious and extensive in the history of the country.
“It will reach all parts of the country and will be phased to ensure that those most in need are prioritized,” he said.
The South African president said health care workers will be the first to get the vaccines in the first phase of vaccination. The second phase will include essential workers, teachers, the elderly, and those with other health issues, while the third phase will include other adults in the population.
Ramaphosa said the government will work in partnership with the private sector, civil society, traditional leadership, the religious sector, and others to implement a comprehensive vaccine rollout strategy and an accompanying logistical framework.
“It is vital that this is a society-wide campaign, in which everyone is involved and no-one is left behind,” he said.
He added that the government is working, both through multilateral initiatives and direct negotiations with manufacturers, to ensure the country can make the best use of vaccines when they become available.
Ramaphosa has ensured that the South African government will maintain complete transparency in its dealings with vaccine manufacturers and the various initiatives.
He said the government will work to improve all its channels of communication, to provide regular information to the public on the development of the vaccination program, to provide accurate and factual information only, and to continue to engage with and listen to the broad range of voices in the society.
South Africa has reported 1,412,986 coronavirus cases and 40,874 deaths so far.
