Civil Society Watch: Vaccine activism takes off under broad new alliance

At the end of December Maverick Citizen reported on a process launched by the C-19 People’s Coalition to develop a vaccine alliance and plan. This week, what has evolved into the People’s Vaccine Campaign published a call to action (see below) which has already been endorsed by more than 500 organisations across civil society. These include the Black Sash, Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, academic institutes, trade unions and the South African Council of Churches (Gauteng). The list is growing rapidly.

The call to action envisages a multifaceted campaign of vaccine literacy, monitoring and mobilisation to make sure no one is left behind. For example, one of civil society’s concerns is the silence on including migrants and refugees (documented and undocumented) in the vaccine campaign. As former health minister Aaron Motsoaledi should know, exclusion makes no sense from a public health perspective. As the president should know, continental solidarity with the African Union makes no sense if it’s not practised at home.

The campaign also insists on dealing with the structural determinants of the Covid-19 pandemic; the need for social relief, strengthened health systems and better-paid community health workers.

In certain respects the civil society mobilisation is beginning to resemble the broad social mobilisation undertaken by the TAC in the early 2000s for access to antiretroviral medicines for HIV. A mass meeting of the campaign will take place on Saturday afternoon to discuss campaign priorities for the next few weeks.

Beyond the political mobilisation to pressure the government to obtain vaccines and make them available fast and at scale, there are a large number of activities.

Vaccine literacy has been identified as a shortcoming that must be overcome to tackle the campaign of misinformation and fear being driven by an anti-vax campaign on social media. Materials have been developed by organisations such as SECTION27, which is also organising day-long training for activists next week by some of the country’s leading vaccine scientists. 



In this sense, too, civil society is showing its strengths and connectedness. WhatsApp is abuzz with discussion and careful sharing of emerging science from trusted sources (although civil society is leaving WhatsApp in droves after its surrender of personal information to Facebook). There are workshops and webinars and links are being reactivated with activists and experts internationally.

As this movement grows a challenge for the government is how to harness its energy and reach while respecting its independence and right to be critical. At this point, unfortunately, although President Cyril Ramaphosa frequently refers to consultations with civil society, the truth is that it’s not happening in a meaningful, inclusive or systematic way. 

On the other hand, the challenge for civil society is how to work with the government and business as an equal partner – listening, learning and mobilising but retaining its independence of voice and action.

South Africa will overcome Covid-19 through activating the strength of all its parts acting in tandem. That should be the goal. DM/MC

Notes from the official campaign

Towards a People’s Vaccine Campaign: A CALL TO ACTION

The Covid-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc in South Africa and globally, millions are being infected and dying. Vaccinating a significant part of the population is the only realistic way to defeat the pandemic. Achieving this will require international cooperation and solidarity, while unity in action across all sectors of our society is now urgent. We need vigilance and solidarity to slow the rate of infection and to ensure that health facilities are not overwhelmed. The reported acquisition of 1.5 million doses of C-19 vaccines for frontline healthcare workers is welcomed, but this must be the start of urgently acquiring millions more. It is estimated that between 40 to 80 million doses will be needed, along with a massive rollout effort to achieve herd immunity. This cannot be done by the government alone. We, the people, especially the millions of poor and working-class people, must be central to this effort. 



A People’s Movement for the Vaccine 

This call to action arises out of a broad-based demand for urgent mobilisation to ensure equitable vaccine access and allocation, which is endorsed by more than 500 organisations and individuals, who now raise a call for the creation of a People’s Vaccine Campaign. It is inspired by the People’s Vaccine Alliance and Free the Vaccine campaigns globally.

Our government’s poor record of public service delivery, widespread corruption and mismanagement, as well as the profiteering by the pharmaceutical industry, private healthcare and other corporate interests, are key contributors to the dire state of our health system, as well as risks to the equitable vaccine access required. While recent lack of transparency about the vaccine plans and delays in securing access to supplies have built little trust.

A people’s movement must participate actively in the discussions to shape and provide oversight to the national vaccination rollout programme. The role of labour (especially frontline workers), civil society, social movements, communities and people’s organisations is crucial to defeat the pandemic. 



 

Why Do We Need a United Response?

1. SA’s Unequal Health System(s)

2. Gendered Disparities

3. Austerity in a Pandemic is disastrous

4. The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)

5. Vaccine Nationalism and Xenophobia

6. Community Healthcare Workers (CHW)

7. Disinformation and Vaccine Skepticism