Cosatu: SA vaccinations lagging behind the West, Africa
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has raised concerns over the slow pace at which government is rolling out COVID-19 vaccines.
On Friday, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize held a meeting with various unions, including Denosa, Nehawu and the Public Servants Association, to discuss the second phase of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout plan.
The second phase of the country's vaccine rollout plan is expected to begin next month and will target the elderly and essential workers.
Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says the slow pace of the country’s inoculation campaign, compared to the West and some African countries, is deeply concerning.
“We are also very concerned that we are falling far behind other countries, not just in the industrialised west but in Africa as well. We can’t afford to be caught napping when the third wave hits us.”
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on tourism in the country.
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It’s been estimated that since the beginning of the lockdown in March 2020, a whopping 300 000 jobs have been lost as a result of the economy shutting down.
Parks further warned that should the government continue with the slow rollout program, then the sector would bleed more jobs.
“I think we have been quite a wary chair, that the longer we take to roll out a program, the more it will affect tourism because most countries have put in very severe restrictions on travel to South Africa. Tourism is a very large employer.”
The country was moved to alert level 2 over the long Easter weekend, as fears mounted of a possible third wave.
A week after the holiday, active Covid-19 numbers have shown an increase, currently sitting at over 21 000.
