Zweli Mkhize Says 1.1m Will Receive Covid Vaccine by End of March

- 1.1 million South Africans will receive the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of March, according to the Health Minister

- Dr Zweli Mkhize stated that they would need to up the ante and vaccinate more than the original 40 million South Africans

- So far 32 000 health workers have been vaccinated in the country with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine

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Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize says that 1.1 million South Africans will receive the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of March. Mkhize said that authorities might have to inoculate more people than the original figure of 40 million.

This has to be done in order to achieve her immunity. Mkhize was addressing the National Council of Provinces on South Africa when he added that more than 32 000 health workers had received the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) jab so far.

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The J&J vaccine rollout has been in place since last week with the Pfizer vaccine expected to arrive in the country soon.

eNCA reported that in the last 24 hours, 1 676 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in the country. A report by IOL stated that 1.5 million cases have been reported with over 49 500 deaths.

In other news about the Covid-19 vaccine, Briefly.co.za reported that President Cyril Ramaphosa wants rich countries to donate vaccines to needy nations. Ramaphosa joined the call for rich countries to donate 5% of their vaccines to poor countries.

Ramaphosa reiterated the calls made by the President of the European Union (EU) Commission as well as the French President and CEO of Global Citizen. The president was addressing the launch of the Global Citizen's five-point plan on Tuesday, 22 February. He made note of countries in Africa in need of vaccine donations.

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Ramaphosa wants rich countries to donate vaccines to needy nations

Ramaphosa believes that no person, region or country should be left behind in terms of the vaccination programmes spread out across the globe. SABC News reported that the EU had contributed €500 million (over R8 billion) to the World Health Organization (WHO) backed COVAX programmed which supplies Covid-19 jabs to emerging economies.

A report by News24 stated that the EU and WHO both wish to create momentum for global Covid-19 pandemic recovery.

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Source: Briefly News