Western Cape health authorities say their preparations to roll-out the Covid-19 vaccine will go ahead.
The department says it continues with its logistical planning for phase one, focusing on health workers, using the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
National Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize confirmed that the roll-out is expected to start sometime next week.
Earlier this week, Mkhize announced that the use of AstraZeneca vaccine has been suspended.
This follows the discovery that the doses are less effective against the variant identified in South Africa.
Western Cape health spokesperson, Mark van der Heever, says they want to be certain that they’re ready to go as soon as the vaccine arrives in the province.
“The planned phase one rollout of the vaccine, focusing on healthcare workers, will continue with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in mid-February, which also released its results against the 501Y.V2 variant. This vaccine showed a 57% efficacy in South Africa but more importantly, it showed 85% efficacy in preventing severe disease and death due to COVID-19.”
