South Africa, which happens to have confirmed a resurgence in covid-19 cases since the emergence of the new variant, remains hopeful ahead of vaccines arrival. As of this month, South Africa has a record three million cases and above. Its infections represent a total of 3.46 percent of the cases globally. South Africa is the most impacted state in the African content.
South Africa’s Vaccination Plans
South Africa is among the states in the continent which anticipate their first shipment of coronavirus vaccines come to the end of February. President Ramaphosa has been versatile amid the pandemic, calling on organizations and wealthy states to ensure equitable distribution of the vaccines.
Healthcare workers at Ndlovu Care Group in northeastern South Africa can’t wait to receive their first dose of the Johnson&Johnson vaccine. However, the Johnson$Johnson vaccine has not been approved for general use anywhere in the world. Last week, President Ramaphosa announced that they had ordered nine million doses of the vaccine. Nevertheless, out of all that, 80000 will land in South Africa this week.
Since the South African regulatory body has approved the vaccine, the immunization process is bound to kick off immediately the vaccines arrive in the country. The vaccines can come in handy for the country, especially as the variant is highly contagious and is spreading at an alarming rate.
South Africans Reactions Towards Johnson&Johnson Vaccines
Asnath Masango, from Elandsdoorn, a small town in Limpopo province, expresses how eager she is to be vaccinated. The 56-year-old has worked at Ndlovu for the past eight years, and the situation has not been easy for her. More so, as a health worker conducting so many coronavirus tests, she feared contracting the virus.
At Ndlovu Care Group, they offered various medical care services, including the diagnosis of HIV and Tuberculosis. Nevertheless, when coronavirus hit the country, the center turned into a PCR testing center. Up to 40000 locals from the rural areas neighboring the clinic have all been tested for the clinic’s virus.
Dr. Rebone Maboa, a principal investigator hired by the Ndlovu Research Centre the previous year to collect data on the Johnson&Johnson vaccine, says the program’s response has been positive. More so, as most of the health workers want to be vaccinated.
Why Did South Africa Drop AstraZeneca Vaccine?
Initially, South Africa was to begin its inoculation campaigns by administering the AstraZeneca vaccine. The state had already purchased and approved the vaccine. Controversies, however, arose the previous week, making the country drop the vaccine. After a small test, it was revealed that the vaccine offered minimal protection against mild to moderate cases of the variant, which was now dominant in the country.
The disappointment was written all over the faces of health care workers who anticipated the arrival of 1.25 million doses for the medical officers. Meanwhile, a survey by the University of Johannesburg and Human Sciences Research Council reveals that 67% of adults in the country asserted that they would gladly take a vaccine if it were available.
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