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Initially, when the first vaccines arrived on our shores and politicians gathered to pat each other on the back, there was grand talk of South Africa being fully vaccinated by the end of the year.

By fully vaccinated, I mean 67% of the adult population, which is the threshold needed to achieve vaccine ‘herd immunity’.

(Good luck getting the anti-mask, anti-vaccine, 5G causes COVID-19 brigade on board, of course.)

Sadly, those vaccines, developed by AstraZeneca and supplied by India’s Serum Institute, were shown to be less effective against the strain of COVID-19 first identified in South Africa, 501Y.V2, so there was the first major stumbling block.

Our current vaccine rollout has been terribly slow, even bearing in mind that the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers is being done as part of a study, rather than the actual rollout plan.

Either way, experts reckon that third wave is about to hit, and we’re nowhere closer to safety.

Here are the latest vaccine dates, via IOL:

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet announced that Phase 2 of the vaccine roll-out would start in May and would be implemented over six months.

While Phase 1 was expected to be completed by the end of March with health workers targeted to receive the first round of vaccines, Acting Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the government was expected to reach its goal by May 17.

Phase 2 will target vulnerable groups, essential workers, and the occupational health and safety stream, which is around 13,3 million people, with plans to run through until the end of October or early November.

From that point, the rest of the country will start being vaccinated as part of Phase 3, which will target 22,6 million people.

According to the government, that will be completed by the end of February 2022, so mark that down as the current finishing date for our vaccine rollout.

In a release from early February, via The National Institute For Communicable Diseases Of South Africa, the completion of Phase 3 was slated for the end of 2021.

If you are inclined to believe that we will achieve our aims by the end of February next year, you have far more faith in this government than I do.

PPE procurement, access to SASSA grants, COVID-19 relief fund administering – the list (and looting) goes on.

Until our jabs are properly rolled out, it’s masks, physical distancing, and the whole shebang.

[source:iol]