EFF statement on Ramaphosa administration’s incompetence on vaccine
8 February 2021
The EFF is appalled to learn of the inexcusable lack of foresight and incompetence by the Ramaphosa Administration regarding the procurement of Astra-Zeneca vaccines. Not only is the vaccine close to reaching expiration prior to its full rollout in phase one, but also its efficacy on the 501.V2/B.1.351 has been discovered by scientists to be around 20%.
When the new variant was reported in mid-December last year, EFF raised concerns over the efficacy of Astra-Zeneca vaccines on it. However, true to this administrations' incompetence, our concerns were never taken seriously. We warned that before procurement of Astra-Zeneca vaccines, there must be scientific certainty of its efficacy.
In fact, it is only rational that as soon as the new variant was reported in South Africa and found to have a footprint of more than 10% during ongoing research: the procurement of Astra-Zeneca vaccines should have been immediately halted to scientifically ascertain its efficacy.