Explained: Clicks and DisChem Gear Up to Offer Covid19 Vaccines in Mzansi
- Clicks and Dis-Chem have reportedly been approved to offer Covid-19 vaccinces through their outlets across Mzansi
- Clicks revealed that it has been approved to offer 47 vaccination sites across the country with a further 520 awaiting approval for registration
- Dis-Chem said it is gearing up to administer between 500 and 600 Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines per site at 11 mass vaccination sites in five provinces
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Clicks and Dis-Chem are gearing up to offer Covid-19 vaccines through their retail outlets and announced the plans recently.
The two largest Mzansi pharmaceutical groups reportedly said they have received approval from the country's Health Department.
Source: Instagram
Clicks said it has been approved to offer 47 vaccination sites across the country with a further 520 awaiting approval for registration, reports Business Tech.
The publication reports that Clicks' chief commercial officer Rachel Wrigglesworth said the group will offer the vaccinations as per the Department of Health's supply, starting with the Pfizer vaccine.
The administrative cost of the vaccine at private providers such as Dis-Chem and Clicks is R70. Patients will reportedly be able to claim this money back either through their medical aid or through the government.
Dis-Chem said it would start to administer between 500 and 600 Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines per site at 11 mass vaccination sites in five provinces from Monday.
In an interview with eNCA, the group’s national head of clinics Lizette Kruger said that Dis-Chem plans to vaccinate around 6 000 people per day at the sites in Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State.
In related news about Covid stats, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize announced on Sunday, 16 May that 27 Covid-19-related deaths were recorded on the day. He said 55 210 people have died from Covid-19 in Mzansi.
Mkhize warned that no vaccine works 100%. He reiterated that they also still don't now whether vaccination prevents transmission of the virus.
"It is therefore still important to follow the standard Covid-19 safety precautions to protect yourself and those around you."
Some social media users took to his comment section to share their thoughts on his statement. Check out some of their comments below:
@HausOfFerosh wrote:
"We're going to vaccinate 1.2 million by the end of next week. I really hope that it is not a lie, it took us months to just vaccinate less than 500k. I don't know even one senior citizen who has received a voucher number as yet, nevertheless I hope for success."
@puja_s27 said:
"We would appreciate more information on how senior citizens will be accommodated at the vaccination sites e.g they cannot stand for long periods, toilet facilities, how you plan on prevent overcrowding to ensure our most vulnerable are kept safe."
@Kash786787 commented:
"Loadshedding will destroy our vaccines."
@Cartide_JR said:
"Allow me to ask for you to see how useless you are and your organisation... how can you give us something that isn't a 100% but still not addressing the issue of the 2 new foreign strains?"
@paul_leask commented:
"Is the department of health still totally disfunctional and are you still having fun with other people’s money? You ANC comrades refuse to learn - it’s going to catch up with you dude!"
@Tsebisomaila added:
"Have you closed the borders with India or..."
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In other news, Briefly News reported that Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize says his department needs more money than it currently has to properly treat South Africa's patients. The minister was addressing Parliament on Thursday.
In the short clip shared by eNCA, he wearily added future projections show his department is underfunded, which couldn't come at a worse time given Mzansi's expected third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
South African social media users were left in awe and wondered how the nation's R60-billion health budget could still be insufficient. They took to the comments section to share their frustrations. Christopher J Bass:
"I knew this was coming the moment a third wave was mentioned and numbers of infections "increasing". This is their way of getting money. Even Ramaphosa lashing out at richer countries to support poorer countries. It's not about real life issues, it's about getting more money."
Prince Mahlangu:
"Can't remember when last I heard the minister delivering good news that give us good rays of hope."
Lebogang Lebzito Phetlhe:
"All departments are in need of money, I haven't heard a single department saying they have enough funds."
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Source: Briefly News
