#Covid-19vaccine: vulnerable people are more important than political games

Welfare organisation Solidarity Helping Hand has expressed concern that political ideology could hinder the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine to vulnerable groups.
This follows reports by Sunday newspaper Rapport that President Cyril Ramaphosa said during a virtual meeting between the ANC’s top six and the Progressive Business Forum that the distribution of vaccines would provide opportunity for black empowerment.

“Vulnerable groups such as older persons and disabled people with medical risks, especially those who do not have medical aid, have the right to equitable and effective health services.

“The availability of vaccine can be a matter of life and death to them. In such a time of crisis, additional regulations that hinder the spread of vaccine should not be introduced. Vaccine should be distributed as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Rene Roux, Helping Hand deputy head of communications.

Roux stressed the public already has little confidence in government due to alleged anomalies regarding the distribution of protective products against Covid-19 in 2020.
“There’s a lot of talk right now, a lot of politics and a lot of speculation, but our vulnerable groups are suffering because of it. Helping Hand urges the government not to make ideological discriminatory decisions now during the pandemic, but to put the health of people first and protect them. Vaccine should be distributed as quickly and effectively as possible and by established and reliable companies that have already proven their effectiveness,” Roux added.
Roux said Helping Hand also supports Solidarity who yesterday directed an urgent letter to, among others, the World Health Organisation and the National Covid-19 Command Council on government’s apparent plans to promote black empowerment through the spread of vaccines.

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