Covid-19 : South Africa Reaches ‘Major Milestone’ As Country Receives Vaccine From India

The Government of South Africa, on Monday, received its first consignment of Covid-19 vaccine from India.

In Africa, the country is the most hit by the coronavirus, nearing about 1,455,000 cases and about 44,164 deaths.

The nation’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, tweeted that the vaccines were a timely intervention for the country, particularly for its health officials.

“Today marks a major milestone in our fight against the #coronavirus pandemic as we receive our first consignment of the vaccine. This batch will benefit our healthcare workers who have been at the forefront of keeping us all safe.

“We thank all South Africans and all the researchers who have contributed toward ensuring the successful development of the vaccine,” he tweeted.

The vaccine was produced by the Serum Institute of India but was developed by pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca with the University of Oxford.

Ramaphosa described the vaccines “as the largest and most complex logistical vaccine undertaking in South Africa’s country’s history.”