It is a bittersweet moment as the first batch of the Covid-19 vaccine arrives in SA today, close to a year after the country's first positive case of Covid-19.
It has been a rough ride that has left 1.45-million infected with the virus, and even though 1.29-million have recovered, 43,951 people lost their lives. Some of the departed were healthcare workers on the frontline of the battle with the coronavirus. We also saw public hospitals overcrowded last month as SA went through the second wave of the virus as staff tried in vain to attend to everyone.
The first batch of 1-million doses from AstraZeneca through the Serum Institute of India is what is being delivered today. It will be used to vaccinate all healthcare workers as they are daily at higher risk of contracting the virus at work.
According to health minister Zweli Mkhize, immunisation will begin in 14 days' time after the vaccine had gone through local checks. "The aim is to be able to give them [healthcare workers] a second dose and complete phase 1. We expect there will be vaccines left to go on to the second phase; according to our original plan, February and March is for the first phase, then to take six months to complete the second phase, " Mkhize said.
The roll-out will take place in phases, prioritising healthcare workers, people with comorbidities, the elderly and others, as part of government plans to immunise 67% of population by the end of the year.
News that the first batch lands in SA today has been received with high spirits as it is our only hope of eradicating the deadly Covid-19. We saw the roll-out issues in the UK, the first country in Europe to administer the vaccine, caused by inconsistent supply. We hope that our government has learnt from their mistakes.
We are also hopeful the first round will instill confidence in the public that the vaccine is our only chance to survive Covid-19.
LISTEN | Vaccines arrive in SA - what now?
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