The WHO’s Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says 90% of high-income countries have reached the 10% covid-19- vaccination target and over 70% have reached the 40% target. Ghebreyesus says he’s concerned that not a single low-income country has reached either target.
Meanwhile, the Covax-facility expects to get access to 1.425 billion doses of the Covid-19 vaccine this year. Of that, about 1.2 billion doses will be made available to low-income countries. It will be enough to vaccinate 20% of the population or 40% of all adults in all 92 countries that are part of the project. This excludes India.
Still with news about the coronavirus: 2 new studies have found that the risk of heart inflammation after vaccination with the Pfizer vaccine remains low. By contrast, Covid-19 infection itself is a risk factor for myocarditis. A separate study also reveals the jab is safe, even among people with allergies.
Back home, South African sports stars, artists & cultural icons have come together to encourage citizens to get the Covid-19 jab. Several personalities yesterday joined Deputy President David Mabuza, at the launch of the “Return To Play – It’s In Your Hands” campaign at the FNB Stadium. Soccer star Siphiwe Tshabalala says they would like to see spectators back in the stands.