SA to receive 1-million vaccine doses this month from Serum Institute of India

7th January 2021

By: Thabi Shomolekae

Creamer Media Senior Writer

     

Font size: - +

South Africa will receive 1-million doses of the SII/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in January, with a further 500 000 doses expected in February.

This was according to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, who announced on Thursday that the Department of Health had secured doses from the Serum Institute of India (SII).

On Sunday, Mkhize had briefed the nation on non-disclosure agreements for the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccine.

“Today, I am pleased to announce that the Serum Institute of India has given us permission to make a public announcement and start engaging with all relevant stakeholders in preparation for the roll out,” he said.

The SII/AstraZeneca vaccine is approved by various regulators and is being rolled out in other countries.

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has begun regulation processes for the roll out.

Health workers will be first in line to receive the long-awaited vaccine, with further doses being rolled out in phases.

Mkhize explained that government directly undertook negotiations and managed payment with the manufacturer, which he says strengthens the credibility of the process.

The health minister called for patience and urged South Africans, members of the public, political parties, business, labour, nongovernmental organisations and community leaders and members to work with the department as the roll out begins.

Government hopes to vaccinate 40-million South Africans by the end of the year.

Edited by Sashnee Moodley
Senior Deputy Editor Polity and Multimedia

Comments

The content you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION