'There is no COVID-19 vaccine' insists Dlamini-Zuma
Cooperative Governance Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma refuted Ekurhuleni mayor, Mzwandile Masina’s COVID-19 vaccine claims.
During his State Of the City Address on Wednesday, Masina announced that the city would be procuring the Cuban-made Interferon Alpha 2B drug in the quest to combat the COVID-19 Coronavirus.
Masina said Ekurhuleni had received blessings from Gauteng Health MEC, Bandile Masuku, for the procurement of the drug, subject to the approval of health stakeholders
Dlamini-Zuma on Thursday led the National Command Council press briefing on the response to measures put in place to curb Covid19.
The press conference came in the wake of the gazetting of regulations on Wednesday to fight the pandemic, which includes a tighter grip on liquor restrictions and prohibitions on large gatherings.
ALSO READ:
COVID-19 cases spike to 150 in South Africa
On Thursday President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement after meeting with religious leaders in Pretoria on plans to tackle the COVID-19 disaster. Ramaphosa pleaded with religious leaders to help government with containing the continuous spread of the virus in light of this increase.
Dlamini Zuma says the country – like the rest of the world - does not have a vaccine for COVID-19 just yet.
"Let me just say that there is no vaccine yet. There is a lot of work that is being done to get a vaccine, but there isn't a vaccine yet,” said Dlamini-Zuma.
"In South Africa we are looking at maybe 18 months before we can say we have a vaccine, but we have no vaccine 9at this stage)."
She adds that Masina may have confused the Cuban-drug as a vaccine.
"It is not a vaccine; it is not a cure. It assists in boosting your immune system so that it can fight (the) Coronavirus, but it is not a vaccine,” insisted the Minister.