Most hit African country by coronavirus secures 20million vaccines
President Ramaphosa discloses vaccine to be available before mid-2021
South Africa looking for other ways to acquire more vaccine
South Africa announced that it has secured 20 million vaccines which would be sent before mid-2021.
South Africa, the highest hit African country from the deadly coronavirus, declared that it has secured 20 million vaccines which would be delivered before mid-2021.
President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed this in a televised statement on Monday, as reported by Reuters.
Ramaphosa said:
“The pandemic in our country is now at its most devastating, we must unite to overcome the grave and persisting crisis our country faces. While there are several promising negotiations with a number of different manufacturers that still need to be concluded, we have to date secured 20 million doses to be delivered mainly in the first half of the year. We will make further announcements as we conclude our negotiations with vaccine manufacturers.”
Ramaphosa added that South Africa will look at other options to get as many vaccine doses as quickly as possible.
This comes after South Africa’s Ministry of Health related that it would receive 1.5 million vaccine doses from AstraZeneca between January to February, distributed by Serum Institute of India for frontline health workers.
South Africa has also had meetings with other vaccine makers including, Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson and others.
Ramaphosa also ordered that South African restrictions remain and the ban on sale of alcohol remains; also 20 land border ports would be closed until the 15th of February.
