Health Minister Joe Phaahla said that government was hoping to vaccinate about 80% of the elderly population against COVID-19 before the end of the year.
More than 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have now been administered in South Africa, meaning over a quarter of the adult population is fully inoculated.
Phaahla said that the younger age groups were still not turning up in their numbers at vaccine sites as they would have hoped.
“We still know that, especially with the Delta variant, that the age distribution has been going to the lower age groups, which are still of concern, but the higher risk is with the older [age groups]. We’ve been saying that if we could get up to 80% coverage of the 50 years and older age groups, that would be quite a huge protection.”
Teenagers will be eligible to get their jabs from Wednesday.
Phaahla said that there were many benefits for the entire country if teenagers were also protected.
More Stories
Matters Related To Putin Not On BRICS Meeting Agenda – Pandor
Professor Taole Mokoena appointed As SA’s New Health Ombudsman
Glencore Ferroalloys Supports Local SMME In Steelpoort With Two 65-Seater Busses
Car-Sharing Could Hold The Key To The Future Of SA’s Mobility In Urban Areas
Debt Ceiling Deal Wins House Approval
SA’s Health System A ‘Dysfunctional Mess’ That Can’t Be Fixed – Makgoba
Zimbabweans In SA Have A Month To Find Alternative Ways To Regularise Stay
Power Grid Collapse ‘Highly Improbable’ – Ramokgopa
Government Is Intensifying The Fight Against Crime – Ramaphosa
Ending Loadshedding Is Ramaphosa’s Top Priority
HEALA Urges SA Public To Comment On Draft Food Labelling Regulations
There’s Been An Improvement in Implementation Of Energy Action Plan – Ramokgopa