The first consignment of 1 million Covid-19 vaccine doses are set to arrive in South Africa on Monday.

The shipment is arriving by aeroplane from India, where the South African government has procured a supply of the precious Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.

The very first dose will be administered to President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President David Mabuza, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize and other high-ranking ministers in a public demonstration of the safety of the vaccine.

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In Stage 1, frontline healthcare workers will be first to receive the vaccine followed by carers, therapists, cleaners, and other staff who work in hospitals. Healthcare workers are most at risk of contracting Covid-19, and these doctors and nurses will form the army of vaccine administers, injecting citizens across South Africa.

Image by Getty.

Health Minister Dr Mkhize has confirmed that restaurant workers will be in vaccinated in Stage 2 of the rollout, which will include other essential workers such as taxi drivers. For the purposes of vaccination, restaurant workers are classed as ‘persons in congregate settings’, a designation which recognises the additional risks they face in their line of work. This will come as a relief to restaurant workers, whose livelihoods depend on interacting with the public on a daily basis.

Taxi drivers will be included in phase2, those working in hotels, restaurants etc too. @FullViewSABC

— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) January 30, 2021

Anyone who wishes to be vaccinated will have to register online through a government portal.

The start date of Stage 2 vaccinations has not yet been confirmed but is expected in the first quarter of 2021.

For more information, please consult the SA Government’s website at www.sacoronavirus.co.za

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