SA Fumes over Early Vaccine Expiry Date Through #RamaphosaMustFall
- South Africans are frustrated after news broke that the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines will be expiring soon in April
- #RamaphosaMustFall is now trending on Twitter as many South Africa voice their opinions on the situation
- The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was received by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the beginning of the month, not long ago
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It's been reported that the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines that were sent to South Africa will be expiring in April. One million doses of the vaccine were sent by India at the beginning of the month.
It has now been revealed that the vaccine itself has a shelf life of around six months. President Cyril Ramaphosa along with Deputy President David Mabuza received the vaccine on 1 February at OR Tambo International Airport.
Due to the early vaccine expiry date, South Africans have started the hashtag #RamaphosaMustFall on Twitter where they are expressing their frustration over the situation.
Source: Getty Images
A report by Times Live stated the early expiry date was picked up after the vaccines were inspected by officials. The South African reported that the vaccine has a six-month lifespan and authorities are looking to engage with the Serum Institute of India to swap the current batch.
#RamaphosaMustFall and 'Dr Mkhize' are creating quite the buzz on Twitter with conspiracy theories dominating the app. Read some of the tweets below:
@dollar_mashesha wrote:
"President Zuma would have done an overnight cabinet reshuffle by now and removed Dr Mkhize. #RamaphosaMustFall"
@BasheneA said:
"Can you people stop voting for ANC already? Now they bought vaccines that expire in April. What level of incompetence is this? #RamaphosaMustFall"
@Mthoko_DubeT tweeted:
"Now I understand why Dr Mkhize said: 'We might experience a third wave in the near future' and all of a sudden the vaccine is about to expire before it even gets to people. Something big is going on, in this country!!! #RamaphosaMustFall #AstraZeneca"
To add to the news about the vaccine expiry date, Briefly.co.za earlier reported that the rollout of the vaccine has been put on hold. The vaccine rollout was stopped after a new study showed that the vaccine is not very effective against the 501Y.V2 Covid-19 variant.
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize announced on Sunday evening that a team of experts would soon give guidance on the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. Mkhize was part of a panel of experts that hosted a media briefing which outlined new developments in SA's vaccine rollout.
Professor Salim Abdool Karim, one of South Africa’s leading Covid-19 experts, said the new research about the vaccine does not spell “doom and gloom”.
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Source: Briefly News
