Slow uptake by nationals may see South Africa destroy at least 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
South African health authorities said on Friday that about 100,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines will be destroyed if nobody takes them before the end of the month.
Hardest-hit on the continent, South Africa has recorded the highest number of coronavirus cases. Inoculation has however reduced in the past few months as the case incidences have also come down.
According to reports, the country still has about 25 million doses of ample vaccines in stock.
The doses about to be destroyed will expire by the end of the month and with nobody taking them, they may not be as potent as when they’re fresh.
“There is a risk that just over 100,000 or so doses which will expire by end of March … may have to be discarded. It will be a sad day if significant volumes of doses can end up being discarded. We hope it will not reach that stage,” Minister of Health, Joe Phaahla told an online news conference.
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South Africa is nearing almost 50% in the full incoculation of its 40million adult population. The country uses Pfizer and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines to inoculate its citizens who have been hesitant in the past few months.