EFF believes both vaccines are ready for use, hence the march to the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority head offices in Centurion, to present their case.
The SANDF medic team has been deployed in Gauteng this week as the numbers exponentially rise, due to Covid-19 third-wave.
“Lockdowns are no longer a solution… vaccination is the way to reopen the country and the economy. Join us if you are not a coward. All are welcome, irrespective of your religious and political beliefs,” says EFF’s President Julius Sello Malema.
But SAPRHA is resolute that the vaccines are not yet ready for inoculation.
In a statement issued on Monday, SAPRHA revealed that the evaluation of the Sinovac application is at a very advanced stage while the Sputnik V application was ongoing.
The organisation’s CEO Dr Boitumelo Semete- Makokotlela stressed that they would not be pressured to allow the public access to any product that has not met the necessary regulatory requirements and been found to be appropriate for use in South Africa.
In Gauteng, the overwhelming request is for oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders and oxygen, or bed availability at hospitals.
Both private and public hospitals are filled to capacity.
An immediate solution is to open Charlotte Maxeke hospital. While it is understood that the burnt section is unsafe, apparently structural engineers have said that many parts of the hospital are fine, according to Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers.
At its peak, Charlotte Maxeke can take care of 300 Covid-19 patients. It has excellent ICU facilities, says Dr Sooliman.
Hillbrow hospital is only functioning at 40% capacity. Why can’t this facility be upgraded to increase bed capacity? he asked.
There is information that dedicated facilities for Covid-19 were built at huge cost at Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital and are not being used. This needs to be investigated and verified as bed space may be available.
“I have heard that a hospital built in Kempton Park has been closed for two decades. It has been vandalised. This is another potential facility to be upgraded to increase bed capacity,” continued Dr Sooliman.
Today a worried Premier of Gauteng David Makhura, met with the provincial Corona Task Team and we await the conclusion details of the meeting.
Malema also claims he met Pres Cyril Ramaphosa who told him the country will go to level-5 for 21 days, during discussion on how the country was planning to handle the virus.
A possible hard-lock down is imminent though.
Image (MEC for health in GP Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi, welcoming SANDF Medical team at a press briefing held at Chris Hani- Baragwanath Hosp on Monday).
