SA would have been excluded from vaccinations if no-fault compensation fund was not established - Mabuza

• Deputy President David Mabuza has defended the government's vaccine injury no-fault compensation fund.
• The fund will have R250 million at its disposal in its first year.
• On Wednesday, Mabuza answered questions in the National Assembly.

Deputy President David Mabuza says the government could not exclude South Africa from vaccinations against Covid-19 all because it would not accept and sign a vaccine injury no-fault compensation fund.

On Wednesday, Mabuza defended government vaccine decisions during a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly.

"Of course, in medicine, whatever medicine you take, there are side-effects depending on the comorbidities that you carry as a human being. By taking any medication, it might on the basis of your comorbidities, the side-effects affect you.

He said:

READ | Covid-19: Ramaphosa weighs in on 'vaccine-apartheid' debate, says vaccines should be for public good

Mabuza told MPs the government had already acceded to the no-fault condition.

"As Cabinet, we have agreed that we are going to put together this fund because we must proceed with the vaccination process. That was one condition for us to sign the agreements. We have signed this with the intention that we must proceed and vaccinate our nation."

The no-fault compensation fund will have R250 million at its disposal to compensate South Africans for vaccine-related injuries in its first year.

The figure was based on an estimated caseload of between 800 and 2 000 successful claims.

Retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo has been appointed to head the no-fault compensation scheme.

In the process of procuring Covid-19 vaccines from suppliers as part of its vaccine rollout strategy, the government was required to indemnify suppliers against adverse events resulting from their use.

To insure any person suffering from severe injuries due to adverse effects from the use of vaccines, suppliers required the establishment of a vaccine no-fault compensation programme and a fund from which to pay claims.

Mabuza admitted there had been several delays in the vaccination process.

"Our people must understand that the pace of our vaccination depends on the availability of the vaccines. If it is not available and everyone is going for it … but as a country, we have secured two suppliers, and we have agreed on doses, and we are expecting it. I think we need to be patient," he said, adding vaccinations would start on Monday.

READ HERE | Covid-19: Move to a stricter lockdown level, experts warn as third wave looms

EFF MP Veronica Mente said the government was hiding behind non-disclosure agreements.

"You are doing this to prevent scrutiny in relation to the prices of vaccines and potential collusion and corruption that will surely happen. The fact that you [the government] are hell-bent on getting specific vaccines over others that are proven to work," she added.

In response, Mabuza said: "Every vaccine we receive goes through a process. Our regulatory bodies go through these vaccines to see whether they are suitable to be consumed.

"We do not just simply acquire. We follow a process. The Sputnik vaccine from Russia and Sinopharm from China … all those are in the process of being checked by our regulator. Whatever we buy, we must check."