South Africa’s Biggest Pharmacies To Offer COVID-19 Vaccines

After a rallying call from South Africa’s Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize, the country’s biggest pharmacies have indicated interest in helping the government in vaccination of citizens.

Mkhize had on Sunday called on the pharmaceutical companies and the private sector to support government in the rollout of he vaccines.

Dis-Chem and Clicks Pharmacy, who both have a dispensary market share of 45% in South Africa have indicated an interest in rolling out the vaccines once details are revealed.

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Both pharmacies have a chain of stores in South Africa and will play key roles in helping the government.

Recall that Discovery Health, the country’s biggest health insurance company has also pledged to help offset 30% of the vaccination of the population.

South Africa is looking to, first of all, vaccinate 1.25million health workers in the country, as they have massive exposure to th disease.

The country also plans to vaccinate at least 40m people in 2021 to achieve herd immunity.

Africa’s worst-hit nation, South Africa has recorded more than 1 million cases with nearly 30,000 deaths.

The nation is considering a host of pharmaceutical companies for the procurement of vaccines with talks already opened with Pfizer and China’s Sinopharm.

Author

  • Olayide Oluwafunmilayo Soaga is a Nigerian journalist with four years of professional experience. She reports on health, gender, education and development, with a focus on impact-driven storytelling.

    She was runner-up for the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) Best Solutions Journalism Award in West Africa in 2024 and a finalist for the 2025 West Africa Media Excellence Awards.

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