Ramaphosa: Vaccination drive ‘must leave no one behind’
President Cyril Ramaphosa says it is vital that no South
African is left behind during government’s COVID-19 vaccination drive.
Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address during the second day of the NEDLAC Organised Labour School - hours before the first consignment of the vaccine is set to arrive in the country.
Ramaphosa said the country’s priority must be to bring an end to the pandemic as quickly as possible.
“We are now entering a new phase in our fight against the pandemic. Later today, South Africa will receive its first consignment of Covid-19 vaccines from the Serum Institute in India.
“This will mark the beginning of a mass vaccination campaign that will be the most ambitious and extensive in our country’s history. It will reach all parts of the country and will be phased to ensure that those most in need are prioritised.”
He said organised labour will play a critical role to in the vaccine campaign, ensuring workers are informed and empowered to access vaccines.
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“Many of those who have been prioritised in the first two phases – health care and other frontline workers – are members of the unions represented here. It is vital that they are ready to be vaccinated and that the doses reach them without undue delay.
“It is vital that the vaccination programme is a society-wide campaign, in which everyone is involved and no-one is left behind.
“While the scale and complexity of this undertaking is far greater than anything we have done before, we nevertheless have ample experience of working together as a society to overcome difficult challenges,” Ramaphosa added.
