Pfizer vaccines south africa

Photo: AFP / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN

State of pandemic as global COVID-19 caseload reaches 80 million and 1.7m deaths

The global caseload exceeded 80 million confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic, which resulted in more than 1.7 million deaths.

Pfizer vaccines south africa

Photo: AFP / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN

As of 26 December 2020, the global caseload of COVID-19 cases stood at 80 287 068, along with 1 759 266 deaths and 56 558 625 recoveries. Meanwhile, the new strain of the virus has been detected in 10 countries across Europe, Australia and Africa.

COVID-19 global updates: 26 December 2020

New COVID-19 variants and mutations

The World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Gebreysus explain that viruses “mutate over time; natural and expected”. According to WHO emergencies chief, Michael Ryan:

“We have had a much higher (contamination rate) at different points in this pandemic and we’ve got it under control. So this situation is not in that sense out of control. But it cannot be left to its own devices”.

A mutation of the coronavirus was found in South Africa on 18 December 2020. Then on 24 December, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed a new COVID-19 variant was found in Nigeria.

On 26 December, the first cases of the British strain were reported in Spain. Madrid regional government’s deputy health chief Antonio Zapatero said the four cases involved people who recently arrived from the UK.

The ‘gifts of life and health’

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also issued a separate message, urging everyone to stay apart amid the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that is the most important gift to the frontline workers during a global crisis.

He acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic is preventing many from celebrating the festive season “as tight-knit communities and extended families, coming together around fireplaces, and dining tables sharing stories”.

“Instead, hundreds and millions of people are making great, heart-wrenching sacrifices, by staying apart to stay safe. But in doing so, they are giving the most precious gifts, the gifts of life and health”.

Status of COVID-19 vaccines

Morocco acquired 65 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from China’s Sinopharm and Britain’s AstraZeneca. According to AP, the north African kingdom will launch a COVID-19 vaccination program to immunise 80% of the country’s adult population.

Bulgaria also received its first batch of 9 750 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines doses. Health Minister Kostadin Angelov said confirmed vaccinations will start on Sunday, 27 December, in a Sofia hospital.

Spain also received its first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on 26 December, one day before the country is set to begin its immunisation campaign. Spain will receive 4.5 million doses over the next 12 weeks.

Meanwhile, the vaccine trial is already underway in Germany as well. As reported by AFP, it will be released to the vulnerable in elderly homes first. Deadly outbreaks of the virus have already hit several retirements homes.

France’s first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine – roughly 19 500 doses from the Pfizer factory in Puurs, northeast Belgium – were delivered to the Paris hospital system’s central pharmacy outside the capital on 26 December 2020.

South Africa missed the COVAX vaccine initiative payment of R327 million, which was due by 15 December 2020, despite assuring the public that the Solidarity Fund would make the payment on time.

Also read: A look at how Christmas was celebrated under COVID-19’s shadow