EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has split social media with his latest comments about the Covid-19 vaccine, suggesting SA buys “exactly one vaccine” and replicate it.
On Monday, Ndlozi said the vaccine could be copied and produced in bulk for people in the country.
“We must buy exactly one vaccine, copy it and reproduce it in bulk for ourselves in SA. Medical patents during such a deadly pandemic are completely wrong, inhuman and must be rejected by all of humanity. No patent on any vaccine — put lives before profit,” he said.
We must buy exactly one vaccine; copy it and reproduce it in bulk for ourselves in South Africa. Medical patents during such a deadly pandemic are completely wrong, inhuman & must be rejected by all of humanity!
— Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) January 3, 2021
No patent on any vaccine - put lives before profit!
Ndlozi also suggested scientists in SA should “reverse engineer” the vaccine and produce it freely for citizens.
Ndlozi's comments come after health minister Zweli Mkhize said on Sunday the government was committed to rolling out vaccines with urgency to establish herd immunity against Covid-19.
Mkhize said the government planned to make vaccines available to all South Africans, starting with the most vulnerable and health workers.
He said the government was targeting 67% of the population in its strategy to establish herd immunity.
On social media, many said Ndlozi's idea of copying and bulk-producing a vaccine was far-fetched because SA doesn't “even know the formula” for it.
Others said the suggestion was an idea the government should consider.
Here is a snapshot of some reactions:
Just how are proposing with copy a final product which we dont even know the formula?
— Mafutha🇿🇦👌🏿🤜🏿 (@MafuthaSkhosana) January 3, 2021
Ndlozi stick with what you do best or develop a vaccine tlhe
You’ll can’t even Copy and make toothpick in this country .
— H A B I B I (@Old_Geee) January 3, 2021
Dr Ice, Let's club together and buy 1 Ferrari and copy it for ourselves. Then bulk produce it. Sounds amazing, why dont we somma bulk copy dstv or Manchester City or Lionel Messi.
— John Benson (@JohnBen35701096) January 3, 2021
Put your phone on a tea break.
And where will we get the ingredients required to produce the desired output. Not only ingredients, equipment, human capital etc
— Michael (@mickeydedrinker) January 3, 2021
This man is under the impression that we have all the skills, capacity, equipment etc with next to zero investment developing them.
— Danielfx (@NunuFxx) January 3, 2021
Yes buy a few samples. Run some tests and do reverse engineering and make it here at home. Provided it's safe and effective. Good idea Dr.
— Mankunxa🇿🇦 (@VolcomZuzz) January 4, 2021
It will take us 5 years to reverse engineer a finished product but we can try
— Paradoxically Speaking (@sc_magwaza) January 3, 2021
That is the only solution but the only problem here is corruption.
— Dungi (@danny_dungi) January 3, 2021
