Statement by Sam Shabane, GOOD National Chairperson
23 July 2021
The announcement of a partnership between Pfizer and Biovac to produce vaccines in South Africa for the African continent is an important breakthrough in the battle against vaccine apartheid.
But the active ingredient for the vaccines will not be manufactured in South Africa, and the GOOD Party will continue to push for a patent waiver.
There is no argument to be made in a so-called global village that some human beings are more deserving than others of being defended against a global pandemic.
The idea that some nations feel entitled to buy many more vaccinations than they need, because they can afford to, leaving the most vulnerable people in poorer nations to take their chances, is a disgusting and immoral reflection of global inequality and injustice.
The GOOD Party therefore enthusiastically supports South Africa and India’s efforts to suspend usual patent laws and considerations of profit – a so-called Trips waiver – to share technologies to enable the world to produce Covid vaccines sufficient for the entire global population.
In the meantime, with South Africa and much of the continent battling to overcome the so-called Covid Delta variant, the Pfizer/Biovac partnership is a shot in the continent’s arm.
South Africa’s progress in implementing its vaccine programme is gaining traction and must be applauded. There is considerable urgency in getting the job done, and getting down to the task of restoring the economy.
The GOOD Party calls on the African Union and ever-quiet African Parliament to take advantage of the new vaccination momentum on the continent and save African lives.