Department of Health deputy director-general Dr Anban Pillay says that South Africa’s key politicians could be among the first in the country to receive a Covid-19 vaccine as a way of reassuring the public of its safety.<\/p>\n
In an interview with the SABC, Pillay said that healthcare workers will be the key priority in the first phase of the Covid-19 vaccine, with other essential workers – including the a number of government workers – covered in phase 2.<\/p>\n
This will include parliamentarians, national and provincial government workers, as decided upon by the Covid-19 Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC), he said.<\/p>\n
However, Pillay said that even before healthcare workers receive their vaccine in the first phase, there has been a recommendation that key leaders take the vaccination publicly so that its safety and efficacy is made clear.<\/p>\n
While Pillay did not specify which leaders would be first in line, it is likely to include president Cyril Ramaphosa and members of his cabinet.<\/p>\n