
Support for the TRIPS Covid-19 waiver is steadily starting to gain momentum.
Professor Jackie Dugard, from the University of the Witwatersrand, says more than 100 countries are now supporting the initiative.
The initiative was originally put forward by India and South Africa in October of 2020.
The initiative calls for the temporary waiving of companies’ rights to intellectual property to allow poorer countries to produce their own Covid-19 vaccines.
Dugard says this would, in the long run, significantly increase access to vaccines.
Read more on the initiative here.
Related articles:
- Vaccine waivers.
- Ramaphosa is hopeful the country’s Covid-19 vaccination program will receive a boost, despite bad news on J&J jabs.
We need to ensure that once they are proven to be safe and effective, they should be equally available to all countries. For this reason we still insist on a #TRIPSWaiver, even in its various forms where it can be negotiated.
#ACTAccelerator— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) December 9, 2021
.@NOIweala highlights the importance of the multilateral trading system in the pandemic response and calls on WTO members to do more to promote equitable access to #COVID19 vaccines and other related medical products. Read the latest WTO monitoring report: https://t.co/xr6gqoZ7vp pic.twitter.com/qOOuZgr4YP
— WTO (@wto) December 9, 2021

The Vooma Vaccination week kicked off on Friday 03 December and it’s hoped that people will take time over the weekend to get their Covid-19 vaccination.
The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross says she will be visiting some vaccination sites over the weekend.
Ross said: “Getting vaccinated means you’re less likely to end up in hospital or die should you contract Covid-19. I urge our residents to make full use of these additional opportunities before we enter the fourth wave of infections.” Ross will check up on the queues at the Langa and Parow Shoprite Park vaccination sites over the weekend.
These are the vaccination sites open in Cape Town this weekend
Sub-district | Site Name | Saturday 4 December operating hours | Sunday 5 December operating hours |
Northern | Brackenfell | 08:00 – 15:00 | 08:00 -13:00 |
Northern | Wallacedene | 08:00 – 13:00 | 08:00 – 13:00 |
Northern | Bloekombos | 08:00 – 13:00 | 08:00 – 13:00 |
Klipfontein | Masincedane | 09:00 – 15:00 | – |
Tygerberg | Parow Shoprite Park | 09:00 – 15:00 | – |
Western | Langa | 09:00 – 14:00 | 09:00 – 14:00 |
Eastern | Mfuleni Shoprite | 09:00 – 15:00 | 09:00 – 15:00 |
Eastern | Blue Downs Shoprite | 09:00 – 15:00 | 09:00 – 15:00 |
Khayelitsha | Thusong Hall | 09:00 – 15:00 | 09:00 – 15:00 |
Khayelitsha | Makhaza Mall | 09:00 – 15:00 | 09:00 – 15:00 |
Khayelitsha | France informal settlement | – | 09:00 – 15:00 |
Eastern | Shoprite Mfuleni | 09:00 – 15:00 | – |
Eastern | Shoprite Blue Downs | – | 09:00 – 15:00 |
Eastern | Lwandle municipal offices parking Grounds | 09:00 – 15:00 | 09:00 – 15:00 |
Eastern |
Onverwacht open Grounds (next to T.V informal settlement) – Onverwacht Street, Nomzamo |
09:00 – 15:00 | 09:00 – 15:00 |
“Vaccine hesitancy is prevalent in many communities because of widespread misinformation. The Vooma vaccination weekend gives residents an opportunity to go to one of the public health vaccination sites and have all their questions answered, but also to get vaccinated. Pre-registration is no longer a requirement, so individuals can literally arrive at a vaccination site and will be guided through the entire process,” says Ross.
All provinces will increase their vaccination sites at transport interchanges, shopping malls and recreational areas.
Those 50 years and older who will be getting their first jab will get a R200 shopping voucher.
The Vooma Week will be supported by a range of activities including lucky draws with cash prices of up to R100 000 for those who are getting their first inoculation for 2021. The Department says there are still 4 million people, 50 and older that are not vaccinated in the country. They are at the highest risk for severe illness and death.
Younger people are however not without risk – 40% of hospital admissions occur in people younger than 50.

Premier Alan Winde has encouraged Mother City residents to make use of the Vaxi Taxi initiative to get their Covid-19 vaccine.
The initiative uses two EMS ambulances and visits residents in their communities, allowing easier access to an injection.
Since its launch in October, the initiative has already vaccinated around 2000 Cape Town residents in the Gugulethu, Kuilsriver and Khayelitsha communities.
Get the latest Western Cape Covid-19 updates here.
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- Fourth wave of Covid-19 to hit the country by the middle of December.
- Only healthcare workers, at this point in time, will receive a booster shot of a Covid-19 vaccine.
- Phaahla: “Lessons learned in first three waves helped country prepare for the next wave.”
We have now surpassed 4 MILLION vaccines administered in the Western Cape👏
Thanks to everyone involved in our vaccine programme & to every single person who chose to get vaccinated. If you are 50+ or with comorbidities, please get vaccinated as soon as you can. #LetsDoThis pic.twitter.com/RdJyIFCQZ8
— Premier Alan Winde (@alanwinde) November 23, 2021
[WATCH] #ICYMI I was in Gugulethu last week Friday to see the Vaxi Taxi team in action. Watch below to learn more about this service and the people who make it work. pic.twitter.com/MxsCxjnr1z
— Premier Alan Winde (@alanwinde) November 22, 2021

The Western Cape Health Department says it will work towards increasing access to Covid-19 vaccines in poorer communities.
Head of Health, Dr Keith Cloete says current data shows that a larger percentage of residents, in more affluent areas, are fully vaccinated.
Cloete says it’s especially pensioners in the Klipfontein-, Tygerberg-, Khayelitsia and Mitchells Plain areas that have not yet had access to an injection.
Access this week’s Western Cape Covid-19 digital conference here.
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- GABS-employees get their Covid-19 vaccination at new pop-up vaccination site.
- WC Health: #SaveOurSummer – Get Vaccinated!
Good morning Western Cape!
📢 Covid-19 vaccination update for 8 November 2021.#LetsDoThis pic.twitter.com/CCvUQ3pckf
— Premier Alan Winde (@alanwinde) November 10, 2021
Thank you for joining our digital press conference today. #ICYMI watch it here👉https://t.co/J4uimCcbxh
— Premier Alan Winde (@alanwinde) November 9, 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) says reaching a global vaccination equity target of 40% needs a whole of government & society approach.
WHO Director General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus says a more aggressive approach is needed to ensure that globally, more people get immediate access to a Covid-19 vaccine.
He says like any other natural disaster the Covid-19 pandemic should also be treated with urgency.
Read more here.
Related articles:
- Everything you need to know about 12-17 year olds getting the Covid-19 vaccine.
- Matriculants, over the age of 18, encouraged to get their Covid-19 vaccination as soon as possible.
- Vaccinated people four times less likely to die from Covid-19 complications.
#VaccinEquity has been undermined by a failure of manufacturers to share licenses, know-how and technology. It’s no wonder the temporary waiver on intellectual property for #COVID19 is backed by the majority of countries. Enough talking, the upcoming @g20org must be about action.
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) October 13, 2021
Reaching 40% #VaccinEquity target needs a whole of government & society approach, with political & civil society leadership. With aggressive action, most of countries can still reach the target. But it takes 🌍 cooperation. Supply is finite. In the end, this is a zero-sum game. https://t.co/BAdWzl5zlZ
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) October 13, 2021