DA Claims That ANC's Vaccine Rollout Will Take 20 Years to Reach Herd Immunity

DA Claims That ANC's Vaccine Rollout Will Take 20 Years to Reach Herd Immunity

- DA leader John Steenhuisen has slammed the ANC's vaccine rollout as a human rights violation

- He said at the current rate it would take 20 years for South Africa to reach herd immunity

- The DA is launching a vaccine tracker to hold the government accountable for vaccine procurement and rollout

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DA leader John Steenhuisen has released a statement on Human Rights Day on the ANC's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The DA is highly critical of the government and slammed the vaccine rollout as a failure and human rights violation.

Steenhuisen said that at the government's current pace of 5 000 vaccines a day, it will take 20 years for the country to reach herd immunity, 40 million people need to be vaccinated to reach this goal, 67% of the population.

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DA slams ANC's vaccine rollout as a 'shameful violation of human rights'
DA slammed the ANC's vaccine rollout and called it a human rights violation. Photo credit: John Steenhuisen
Source: Facebook

Steenhuisen said that more human rights abuses are in store for people living in the country as the lockdown restrictions continue while the government rolls out the vaccine at a snail's pace.

He said that without a vaccine human rights would continue to be violated and not South African can live a meaningful and dignified life.

He said in contrast that Rwanda is vaccinating 140 000 people a day and Chile 100 000 daily, dismissing the argument that it is a rich versus poor nation argument.

Steenhuisen used the simile that the current rollout is like trying to fill a swimming pool with a teaspoon.

With a third wave on the horizon, the DA believes that human rights would continue to be violated.

The DA has launched a vaccination tracker which will provide regular updates on vaccine procurement and rollout in order to hold the government accountable.

Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Human Rights Day, he started by reflecting on the fact that the day falls almost exactly a year after Covid-19 was declared a national emergency in the country.

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Ramaphosa looked back over the year and the hardships people have endured, losing family and friends to the pandemic. He also mentioned the damage it has caused to the economy and people's lives.

He spoke about the sacrifices people had to make to slow the spread of the virus by socially distancing and restriction of movement around the country. He also noted that people were unable to attend ceremonies such as weddings and funerals.

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Source: Briefly News

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