The health department on Thursday said the delayed payment on the COVAX programme would not derail South Africa’s efforts in securing a COVID-19 vaccine.
The department quickly moved to clarify that an administrative glitch between COVAX and the Solidarity Fund had put the brakes on its participation in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) COVID-19 global vaccine access facility.
The department maintained it was in the process of finalizing its agreement with COVAX – this after the WHO launched the programme to speed up the search for an effective vaccine.
The Solidarity Fund was meant to make an R327 million deposit to secure enough vaccines to supply 10% of the country’s population this week.
However, this did not materialize as Deputy Director-General of Health, Dr. Anban Pillay, explained.
“The Solidarity Fund was supposed to pay a deposit on 15 December, however, the COVAX facility had not responded in terms of the documentation that was required in order for the deposit to be made. They have subsequently indicated that the deposit can be paid at a later date and indicated by next week, 22 December, would be fine.”
Pillay said despite the payment not being made on the agreed-upon date, it wouldn’t hold back South Africa from accessing vaccines through the global initiative.
-EWN
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The post Health dept assures SA COVID-19 vaccine plan still on track first appeared on News365.co.za.
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