Sipho Mabena
Focus will be on vaccinating about 7.1 million adults across industry.
The studies, published in The Lancet medical journal, constitute a major step on the road towards a COVID-19 vaccine that is effective and safe for widespread use. AFP/File/CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN
Medical aid schemes will not only be legally obliged to fund Covid-19 vaccine for their about seven million adult members, the sector has agreed to a pricing arrangement to subsidise vaccination for the priority population without medical aid cover. The surplus funds generated by the sector through higher price purchases of the vaccines will be used to cross-subsidise higher-risk nonmedical-scheme members, on a one-for-one basis. This could result in the private sector funding the vaccination of about seven million higher-risk people not on medical aid. “For each vaccine procured for a medical scheme member, sufficient surplus is generated through procurement...