Acting health minister Mammoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has announced that government will open up Covid-19 vaccine registrations to more age groups nationally from next week.<\/p>\n
In a media briefing on Friday morning (25 June), Kubayi-Ngubane noted the important dates for all citizens between the ages of 50-59 :<\/p>\n
The minister said that as of Thursday, 2.5 million people have been vaccinated in South Africa with no deaths reported.<\/p>\n
She added that studies published this week show that there is clear evidence that vaccines provide high levels of protection to those who have been inoculated.<\/p>\n
South Africa has previously only allowed healthcare workers and people over the age of 60 to register for vaccinations. The government began its plan to vaccinate nearly half a million education staff this week.<\/p>\n
Kubayi-Ngubane said that the government was concerned about the number of people over 60 who have registered for a vaccine, which has continued to decrease.<\/p>\n
The minister said that this was particularly problematic as this age group is not at risk and yet the majority of people have not been vaccinated.<\/p>\n
She said that this was likely a result of high vaccine hesitancy, difficulties in accessing technology to register, and not being able to access vaccination centres.<\/p>\n
Kubayi-Ngubane said that the government was now finalising plans to bring vaccines directly to people.<\/p>\n