As, Show Me Your Number (SMYN) we welcome the announcement made by the United States Biden-Harris administration to support the TRIPS waiver for COVID-19 vaccines. In our response to eradicate Covid-19 we are calling all people 60 years and older to register to get the Covid-19 vaccine. The TRIPS waiver for COVID-19 vaccines is another step in ensuring that all in South African will have uninterrupted procurement of the COVID-19.
We have noted with the interruption in the first roll-out to our Health Care Workers and we need to cover all the tracks in ensuring access to health care for all who live in South African is realised. Many Members of Parliament including the public have an array of concerns with the Covid-19 vacinne. During a parliament debate our President Cyril Ramaphosa says that the country’s slow start to its Covid-19 vaccine rollout is the result of several factors outside of the country’s hands. “We’ve lost time on the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, we know that. Of course we care, that’s what we’ve been doing since this pandemic started.” Ramaphosa confirmed that the government has now finalised the contract for sufficient doses to vaccinate 41.5 million people.
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) obligations related to the manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines is now supported by over 100 countries. This comes after the US President Harris Biden, in his capacity at the Chairperson of the African Union (AU), made the call during a webinar on the Africa COVID-19 Vaccine Financing and Development Strategy, in a move that would enable countries in Africa and in other developing countries to access active pharmaceutical ingredients and benefit from technology transfer, including the know-how to manufacture vaccines in Africa at a cheaper cost.
“We are not closer to now manufacture vaccines locally against the pandemic. This will ensure that we meet the demand for the vaccine to the Key and Vulnerable Populations, starting with people 60 years and older to register for the vaccine. This call is extended to all south African and documented foreign national senior citizens as well. We have always advocated for Right to health as mandated in the Bill of Rights” said Mr Mabalane Mfundisi, Executive Director of Show Me Your Number.
Are you 60 year and older? Take the time and register now. Registering to get vaccinated made easy!
You can register on the Covid Whatsapp number by sending ‘REGISTER’ to 06000123456Or send an SMS to 134*832 your ID number# but should you not have an ID number just dial 134*832*
#ThinkTwiceAboutCovid
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