South Africa to receive 1 million COVID vaccine doses from India

NEW DELHI:

One million coronavirus vaccine doses will arrive from India in South Africa on February 1, South African Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said on Wednesday.

After the arrival of the vaccine doses, they will undergo some processes for 10 to 14 days, after which they will distribute the vaccine among provinces, he said during a virtual press conference.

The vaccine will be first administered to health care workers and other priority sector staff in the first phase of the campaign free of cost.

Those who are insured will pay the cost through their medical aid schemes, while the government will absorb the cost of vaccination for uninsured workers.

It was informed that businesses or corporates who may want to vaccinate their employees may also do so at their workplaces and bear the costs involved.

The South African authorities have allowed pharmacies with a guaranteed cold chain facility to purchase the stock of the vaccine.