The United Democratic Movement (UDM) says Africa should extensively invest in developing its own vaccines that will act against all forms of coronavirus (COVID-19) variants that mutate.
This as concerns have been raised that the dominant B.1.617 variant, that has been detected in India, could reach South African shores.
It comes after fourteen Filipino crew members, who arrived at the Durban Port on a vessel from India on Sunday, tested positive for COVID-19.
India is currently facing a surge in daily COVID-19 infections and deaths.
UDM Chief Whip Nqabayomzi Kwankwa says it is important for Africa as a whole to invest heavily in the production of its own vaccine for the coronavirus.
“This is important in light of what has been happening, which people call resource hoarding around the world, where countries that have the vaccine in excess aren’t supplying it or providing it to countries that are in need,” says Kwankwa.
Kwankwa says South African pharmaceutical companies need to invest in vaccines.
“It is also important that as South Africa and pharmaceutical companies in Africa invest in the production of the vaccine that we produce a vaccine for South Africa and the people of Africa a vaccine that is going to be responsive or be able to deal with all the different variants of the virus as it mutates,” added Kwankwa.
The UDM Chief Whip also noted the importance of creating vaccines that can keep up with COVID-19 when it mutates.