[ad_1]
Jeff J Mitchell / Pool via AP
- As the first shipment of vaccines appears to be arriving in South Africa, the government faces criticism.
- The first batch of vaccines is expected to arrive this month.
- Critics say the government lacks a coherent plan.
South Africa has begun outlining its Covid-19 inoculation plans, even though it has yet to receive a single dose of vaccine, as it faces criticism for unrealistic targets and a lack of clarity.
The worst-affected country on the continent has high hopes for vaccines as authorities grapple with an unprecedented surge in cases caused by a new variant of the virus.
The government aims to vaccinate two-thirds of its population, around 40 million out of nearly 60 million people, to achieve herd immunity by the end of 2021.
READ | 20 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines arrive, says Ramaphosa
One million doses of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine are expected this month, the first shipment of 20 million safe doses to be delivered primarily in the first half of the year.
“This will be the largest and most complex logistics enterprise in the history of our country,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said during an address to the nation on Monday.
After weeks of public outcry over lack of planning, he finally came up with a three-phase vaccination plan for next year.
About 1.2 million healthcare professionals will be the first to receive the vaccine, followed by 16 million elderly and vulnerable citizens, as well as frontline workers.
The remaining 22.5 million adults are then scheduled to be vaccinated.
But details on timing, vendors and logistics remain scant, raising questions about the plan’s viability.
Angelique Coetzee, Director of the South African Medical Association (SAMA), said:
That would mean that we would have to vaccinate 150,000 people every day for the next 12 months.
“It is not realistic,” he added. “We don’t have that capacity. Who is going to vaccinate all these people?”
‘No concrete plan’
Ramaphosa assured that negotiations with vaccine manufacturers will be centralized and transparent.
Faith in the government has been shaken by a series of coronavirus-related corruption scandals last year that involved high-profile politicians who are currently under investigation.
“Vultures revel in the misery of Covid-19,” criticized a local newspaper in July, citing allegedly corrupt deals to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE).
Ramaphosa said South Africa would insure its vaccines through the Covax facility backed by the World Health Organization, the African Union and “direct commitments” with providers.
The first 1.5 million AstraZeneca vaccines, expected in January and February, will be manufactured in India.
Covax is expected to provide doses to 10% of the population between April and June.
The chief vaccines ministerial adviser, Barry Schoub, told AFP that “other negotiations” are under way to meet vaccination targets.
Frustrated by the delay, the prosecution has accused the government of sidelining “respectable” manufacturers in favor of Chinese and Russian suppliers, “in the hope of obtaining bribes.”
READ | Beaches, booze, and border posts – Here are 8 takeout meals as Ramaphosa keeps SA at lockdown level 3
“We do not have a concrete plan for the acquisition of this vaccine,” he said in a statement this week.
“Where did the 20 million doses come from …?”
‘Game changer’
Pressure is building on the government.
South Africa’s second coronavirus wave has hit harder than the first, fueled by a variant of the virus believed to be more transmittable.
To date, the country has registered more than 1.2 million cases and 34,000 deaths.
This year alone there were at least 190,000 infections and 4,600 deaths.
“An effective vaccine will change the rules of the game,” promised Ramaphosa.
But experts estimated that it could cost between R12 billion and R20 billion to vaccinate the entire population, according to local media.
That is a high number for a country with a huge public debt that has been compounded by an economic recession caused by the pandemic.
The National Treasury, which promised to pay the bill, has not yet revealed its budget for the purchase of vaccines.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has asked the private sector to help with implementation.
Last week, the two largest pharmacies in South Africa said they would offer the injections in their stores and provide storage and distribution facilities.
“The main challenge will be distributing the vaccine in parts of the country that are very hard to come by,” said Schoub.
“There are parts of the country where there are not even roads.”
