More than 28m vaccine doses, valued at more than R3.8bn, are due to go to waste, according to Health Minister Joe Phaahla, who also said the government had not set aside any emergency funds for the outbreak of a future pandemic or another Covid.
The vaccines included Janssen jabs (worth R2 677 716 836), while the value of the Pfizer vaccines was R1 208 569 690, reports IOL.
Phaahla said the national Department of Health had no specific emergency funds in preparation for another global pandemic.
“These funds are enshrined in the Disaster Management Act and are competency of the Department of Co-operative Governance & Traditional Affairs (Cogta) through the National Treasury. They are released when the President declares a disaster through Cogta,” he said.
Meanwhile, an official in the Free State has been suspended and arrested by the SAPS for the theft of antiretroviral drugs, valued at R85 000, from a clinic.
IOL article – 28 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to go to waste – Phaahla (Open access)
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