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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He has described Monday, 1 February, as an exciting day after the country received its first consignment of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines from India.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have indicated that one of the major forms of prevention is the provision of vaccines in order to create immunity amongst our people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
However, the Minister admitted that is has been a challenging exercise to manage the issue of vaccines, as many nations scrambled to get their hands on them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Minister said the State has had to contend with the fact that not all vaccines have their efficacy results out.<\/p>\n
However, Mkhize has assured the committee that government is on course for the vaccination programme.<\/p>\n
He told the members that government is still committed to immunising 40 million people in the country.<\/p>\n
Mkhize said government is working with everyone including the private sector and labour to ensure that their response is coordinated.<\/p>\n
He said the vaccines are currently stored at Biovac and also at centres across the country where cold chain conditions are observed.<\/p>\n
Security and training<\/strong><\/p>\n Meanwhile, the State has beefed up security, while hundreds of healthcare workers have been trained to administer the jab.<\/p>\n Government has also roped in religious, traditional and civil society leaders for support.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cWe must say that it\u2019s not going to be a smooth process and that there will be mistakes, stop-start issues, and issues of new lessons and challenges. All of that it will be taken in our stride.\u201d<\/p>\n Phased approach He said government will continue with its phased approach, which will see healthcare workers being first in line to receive the life-saving vaccines.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n
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