CDC started working with
non-governmental organizations and community based organizations
to support the emerging HIV epidemic in South Africa.
More than four million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in South Africa.
So, given the large platform we have here with with PEPFAR
and HIV and TB, with the resources
we have in influenza and other respiratory disease surveillance,
with the resources we have in global health security,
CDC was able to mobilize and support South Africa early
in the COVID-19 response.
Any system that the community has,
we work through that system
to get in and educate about vaccines and then gain their trust,
and then be able to map out how we will do the vaccinations in the area.
Because of our large PEPFAR platform,
our implementing partners were able to provide strong support,
both technical support and implementation support to vaccination efforts.
For example, Health Systems Trust rallied its own staff to serve as queue marshals,
which are people who who manage those in line for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Everyone was scared.
They didn't even know what was going to happen after the vaccination.
There were a lot of myths that were circulating.
CDC's partners, Aurum Institute, and Health Systems Trust,
have been deeply involved in delivering vaccines in South Africa,
both in terms of providing vaccines, doing vaccine delivery,
but also doing vaccine preparedness, demand creation,
especially among those younger populations who need to
increase their rates of vaccination here in South Africa.
We needed
to make sure that it's a very good decision that you're taking.
And you’re going to be fine. There's nothing to be worried about.
Like I'm saying, there were a lot of things
that we've been told about the vaccine.
You’re taking a good decision, not for yourself only, but for everyone,
and more especially your loved ones.