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President Cyril Ramaphosa and Vice President David Mabuza receive the first shipment from South Africa of the Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine. (Elmond Jiyane / GCIS)
- Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says that the full amount of the purchase of AstraZeneca vaccines was received on Monday last week.
- About one million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were sold to the African Union by South Africa.
- Mkhize says that the first batch of vaccines to be delivered will benefit nine member states.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said the sale of one million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the African Union (AU) was completed.
In a statement on Sunday, Mkhize said the department had ensured in recent weeks that all member states identified by the UA’s vaccine procurement team as recipients complied with and obtained regulatory approvals, permits and licenses to implement the jabs. in their countries.
Mkhize said the department received the full amount of the purchase last Monday.
The AU and South Africa teams then made sure that all logistical arrangements are in place for the shipment of the vaccines. The minister is pleased to announce that the first batch of vaccines to be delivered will benefit nine member states. The balance will be collected this week and will be delivered to five other countries, “the department said.
News24 previously reported that Mkhize said selling the vaccines would be cheap.
Addressing the National Press Club earlier this month, Mkhize said local scientists were still working on the research on the vaccine’s efficacy.
He said the UA would buy more than a million vaccines for the same amount that was spent on acquiring them from the Serum Institute of India.
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Use of the doses was stopped in South Africa after it was found to be not very effective against the 501Y.V2 variant.
In February, the department began distributing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to healthcare workers.
News24 also reported that the lead investigator for the AstraZeneca vaccine trials in South Africa, Professor Shabir Madhi, said he was “mortified” that the government had “dropped” the doses.
The professor said there is still a strategic use of vaccines among high-risk groups.
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