1/14/2024 0 Comments Data guardian south africa![]() “Most of them fled with literally nothing to safe camps,” the minister said. Malawi is currently in discussions with South Africa to arrange temporary travel papers for stranded Malawians because most lost their passports in the chaos, Nankhumwa said. The southern African nation of Malawi plans to repatriate at least 400 of its citizens following the attacks in South Africa, said Kondwani Nankhumwa, Malawi’s information minister. The king has since appealed for an end to the unrest. The latest violence followed reported comments by Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, an influential figure among the Zulu ethnic group, that foreigners should “pack their bags” and leave. The government aims to vaccinate two-thirds of its population – around 40 million out of nearly 60 million people – to achieve herd immunity by the end of 2021.Some South Africans have accused immigrants of taking jobs and opportunities away from them. South Africa is battling with a second wave of infections fuelled by a new coronavirus variant deemed more infectious by scientists. “The government’s non-disclosure of information is further proof why it cannot be trusted with a monopoly regarding the purchasing and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines,” Afriforum said. The trade union Solidarity and the prominent rights group Afriforum jointly announced plans to launch a legal battle against the government over lack of transparency. “Reports today indicate that … government will have to spend double what some other countries are paying for their vaccines,” the main opposition Democratic Alliance party said, blaming poor planning and delayed negotiations. Opposition groups have criticised South Africa’s inoculation strategy. ![]() The SII was also set to supply 100m doses of the vaccine to the African Union for $3 each, Reuters reported. Other vaccines will be provided via the African Union and bilateral contracts with suppliers that have not yet been disclosed. The WHO-backed Covax facility is expected to provide shots for 10% of the population between April and June. South Africa’s AstraZeneca vaccine order is part of 20m secured doses to be delivered in the first half of 2021. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against “vaccine nationalism” and “price gouging”. “The explanation we were given for why other high-income countries have a lower price is that they have invested in the, hence the discount on the price,” Pillay said.Īround 2,000 South Africans participated in clinical trials for the vaccine in 2020.īilateral deals between wealthier governments and coronavirus vaccine manufacturers have raised concern over price rises and lack of supply for low- and middle-income countries. Pillay told the local Business Day newspaper the higher price was because other countries contributed to research and development. South Africa’s deputy director general of health Anban Pillay said via text message: “The National Department of Health confirms that the price $5.25 is what was quoted to us.” ![]() To date South Africa has recorded more than 1.3 million cases of coronavirus and 38,800 deaths. It did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the health ministry’s price quote. AstraZeneca France told AFP in November that its shots would be capped at €2.50 (around $3) per dose “to provide vaccines to the widest population, with as fair access as possible”.
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