At least 30% of South African adults will receive COVID-19 vaccinations, thanks to the medical schemes run by the country.
The schemes, will pool health insurance premiums will help millions of South Africans receive the vaccine.
Ryan Noach, Discovery Health’s Chief Executive said the schemes will help its members – over 7 million people to receive the vaccinations, while also making provisions for the vaccination of 7 million others without recognised medical insurance programmes.
Discovery Health is South Africa’s largest medical scheme providers and is supporting the national government to ensure at least 67% of the population get vaccinated. This is to reach a point where herd immunity can be attained.
Discovery Health said it won’t lead to a reduction in its profit with the arrangement with the South African government making sense on both economic and humanitarian terms.
It also said 2020 came with surpluses as the company didn’t have to pay much as a result of the absence of non-COVID-19 related cases.
South Africa has started negotiations with pharmaceutical companies, and is expected to procure vaccines in the region of $400m. The negotiation is being handled by the national government.
Recently, the South African government described the cost of Pfizer’s vaccine as “prohibitive”.
More than one million cases have been recorded in the country with at least 29,000 deaths reported. It is Africa’s worst-hit country.
