Board approval for funding to be set aside for its members to get the vaccine was agreed to six weeks ago, Whelan said.
A prioritisation procedure will apply, with the first people to get the vaccine being essential health workers, followed by people at risk of more severe manifestations of the coronavirus and then the scheme's broader-based members.
Whelan said the target is to secure enough vaccines for the entire country, with the combined efforts of other companies and the national health department.
“We are committed to an equitable rollout of vaccines, and [discussions are under way] to leverage the buying power to get a good commercial arrangement from vaccine manufacturers,” he said.
“The vaccine is really only effective if we vaccinate the whole country. We need to achieve herd immunity across SA.”
TimesLIVE