South Africa receives its first doses of Covid-19 vaccine
South African police escort refrigerated trucks carrying the first doses of vaccine that arrived in Johannesburg on February 1, 2021. AFP - PHILL MAGAKOE
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
A plane carrying 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine landed on Monday February 1 in Johannesburg.
The doses were delivered by an Indian laboratory authorized to produce this vaccine.
A cargo greeted by President Cyril Ramaphosa and with relief, while the country is the hardest hit by the pandemic on the African continent.
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With our correspondent in Johannesburg,
Romain Chanson
Camera focused on a sky radar, the continuous news channel eNCA scrutinizes the arrival of the plane carrying the vaccines.
The Boeing 777 lands at 3 p.m.
"
The plane lands on South African soil ... that's it, it's official ... it's there!"
", Exclaims the presenter, before continuing:"
It is a moment full of emotion, it is the beginning of a huge logistical challenge across the country.
It's only two pallets, it's not impressive, but what matters is the symbol of this delivery, its meaning.
"
"
Today marks an important stage in the fight against the pandemic
", reacts Cyril Ramaphosa on Twitter.
Fellow South Africans,
I address you this evening as we begin a new chapter in our struggle against the coronavirus. Https://t.co/PTwZ4ByqC3
- Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 #StaySafe (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 1, 2021
The South African president, present on the tarmac, takes a look at the order form hanging on the cargo.
First official check before a battery of checks which should last several days.
Tests are also underway to know the effectiveness of the vaccine on the South African variant.
If the logistical challenge is met in time,
the vaccination campaign
should start in two weeks.
Initially, it will concern exclusively health personnel.
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South Africa
Vaccines
Coronavirus