Fake news and rumours can kill, vaccines save lives - Ramaphosa
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that vaccines are vital in overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic, emphasising that false information and fake news can put lives at risk.
Ramaphosa dedicated his weekly newsletter to government’s efforts to roll out the first consignment of Covid-19 vaccines from the Serum Institute in India.
“It will signal the start of a mass vaccination campaign that will be the most ambitious and extensive in our country’s history,” Ramaphosa said.
He added that the first vaccines to arrive would be provided to healthcare workers, who would be targeted in the first phase. The second phase would include essential workers, teachers, the elderly and those with co-morbidities. The third phase would include other adults in the population.
“A comprehensive rollout strategy and an accompanying logistical framework will be implemented in partnership with the private sector, civil society, traditional leadership, the religious sector and others. It is vital that this is a society- wide campaign, in which everyone is involved and no one is left behind.”
Ramaphosa said government had already embarked on an extensive communications campaign to educate the population about the Covid-19 vaccine, and to challenge many of the misconceptions in circulation.
“For its part, government will work to improve all its channels of communication, to keep the public regularly
informed on the development of the vaccination programme, to provide information that is accurate and factual, and to continue to engage with and listen to the broad range of voices in our society.”
Ramaphosa also addressed concerns about government’s alleged fumbling in securing vaccines by failing to ensure it engaged early and timeously with vaccine makers resulting in a delayed arrival of vaccines in the country.
Despite claiming to have been in talks with pharmaceutical companies for “six months,” government only started confirming deals with manufacturers in January - in the face of a groundswell of criticism, News24 earlier reported.
Ramaphosa said that vaccines would arrive “soon,” adding that government has been working, both through multilateral initiatives and direct negotiations with manufacturers, to ensure South Africa can make the best use of vaccines when they become available.