The process of vaccinating 16.5 million people in South Africa against Covid-19 by the end of October will begin on Monday, 17 May, as the national roll-out begins.
Provinces have admitted that the start of the Covid-19 vaccination programme will be slow. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, too, has acknowledged this.
The Department of Health has promised that 3,000 vaccination sites will be brought online during Phase Two of the programme. Those over 60 years old are able to register and receive a Covid-19 vaccine during Phase Two, which is scheduled to run from 17 May until the end of October.
Pfizer vaccines will be administered at 83 public sector sites and four private sector sites from 17 May, according to Mkhize on Sunday evening during a press briefing. He was joined by the health MECs of all nine provinces.
The body says that they have received little feedback from approved applications
Sahpra launched the programme to ensure that approved products reach the patients and that illicit formulations and veterinary products are not used
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) says that they have seen a decline in applications for their ivermectin Controlled Compassionate Use Access programme for Covid-19.
“The application numbers were higher in February and March but have significantly declined since then,” Saphra spokesperson Yuven Gounden told Health24.
The programme was launched at the end of January this year as various doctors lobbied for the drug to treat Covid-19. So far, Sahpra has approved 160 out of 214 applications since the start of the programme.
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