The South African Health Minister, Dr. Zweli Mkhize has officially stated that the reports regarding the return of vaccines to India are false.
With the world still undergoing the COVID pandemic, the need for a cure has increased everywhere. Every country is in a race to either procure its own vaccine or purchase the vaccines available in the market. India is one of the leading producers of the world’s vaccines and, according to media sources, provides for about 60% of the vaccines in the world. India has two variants of the vaccine, Covishield which is the local name for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, and Covaxin, which is locally made.
India has been providing many countries with the Coronavirus vaccine for free, as part of its ‘Vaccine Maitri’ (Vaccine Friendship) initiative, also called ‘Vaccine Diplomacy’.
South Africa is one of the countries to have received the Covishield vaccine as part of the programme. Many reports had indicated that South Africa had returned the vaccines to India and that the doses were expired.
The South African Health Minister said the vaccine was delivered to the African Union, which is supposed to distribute the vaccine to those countries which might find it more beneficial. He has made it official that the vaccines are not due for expiry until April 31. This date came after quality control processes conducted by the authorities, proving that the vaccine is suitable for use.
Dr Mkhize has also stated that the government has purchased vaccines from many sources and is regularly in touch with manufacturers and suppliers of the vaccine. The country has secured a deal of 9 million doses from Johnson&Johnson as well as 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine. The country is preparing to start a vaccination drive soon.