(Fighting New Coronary Pneumonia) South Africa's vaccination progress raises concerns that the Minister of Health says he is confident that it will be completed on time

　　China News Agency, Johannesburg, March 31 (Reporter Wang Xi) On March 31, local time in South Africa, South African Minister of Health Mukez announced that there were 1,422 new confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia and 58 deaths that day.

As of press time, the number of confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia in South Africa reached 1,548,157 and 52,846 deaths.

　　According to data released by the South African government a few days ago, 251,000 medical staff have been vaccinated against the new crown pneumonia.

But what is worrying is that this figure is only a quarter of the workload of the first phase of the South African government's vaccination plan.

　　In response to concerns about the slow progress of vaccination work, South African Minister of Health Mukez responded that there were indeed some delays in the vaccination process, but the South African government is still confident that the country will have 1 million medical workers by mid-May. Complete vaccination.

At the same time, the South African government will also vaccinate 200,000 people every day from mid-May.

　　Mukez pointed out that since the first batch of vaccination was started on February 17, the South African government plans to complete the first phase of vaccination for 1 million medical workers in South Africa within three months, that is, before mid-May; 5 In the nearly six months from mid-October, the South African government's second phase of vaccination will target high-risk groups such as the elderly, patients with chronic diseases, and basic industry workers; during the period from October to December, the South African government's third phase of vaccination will To all people.

　　Mukez emphasized that although there have been some delays in the vaccination process, the overall vaccination plan of the South African government has not been greatly affected, and it is still proceeding as planned.

　　South African President Ramaphosa also emphasized in his national television speech on the 30th that the South African government is confident of completing the vaccination work for 40 million people within this year, and more vaccines are "on the way."

　　Prior to this, the South African government has successively ordered 11 million and 20 million doses of vaccines with Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer. At the same time, the South African government has also obtained 12 million doses of vaccines through the WHO-led "New Coronary Pneumonia Vaccine Implementation Plan" (COVAX).

(Finish)