02 Feb

The first delivery of COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in South Africa at a time when the country is suffering from the largest coronavirus outbreak on the African Continent.

South Africa has more than 1.45 million cases. A COVID-19 variant was first detected in the country in December, and its infections continue to spread.

President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed the arrival of the vaccine on Monday, at an international airport in Johannesburg.

In his address to the nation, Ramaphosa said the arrival of the vaccine could "turn the tide" on a disease that has devastated the country.

The 1 million vaccine doses delivered were developed by AstraZeneca and produced by Serum Institute of India. The first shots will be given to healthcare workers.

South Africa has also secured more vaccine doses via the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility, or COVAX, and other means. The COVAX Facility was launched by the WHO and others and is aimed at providing all participating countries with equitable access to vaccines.

However, South Africa is not expected to receive enough doses to vaccinate its target of 40 million people, or about 67 percent of its population, anytime soon.

A gap between developed and developing countries over vaccine supply and speed of delivery has now become a focal issue.

NHK