Citizens 18 years and older will now be eligible to get their COVID-19 vaccinations from Friday, August 20, as the national government looks to increase the vaccination rollout program.
This decision comes after Cabinet indicated in a statement on Thursday that it had received a report from the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) stating that over nine million vaccines have been administered in South Africa to date.
“Cabinet welcomed the vaccination rollout plan to increase the uptake of vaccines, particularly in provinces that had shown a reduction in the uptake of vaccines. As part of increasing the vaccination roll-out program, Cabinet approved the vaccination of persons aged between 18 and 35 years from 20 August 2021,” Cabinet said in the statement.
The Department of Health also reported 14 728 new cases reported and 384 deaths in South Africa, bringing the total to 78 377 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
As of today the cumulative number of #COVID19 cases identified in SA is 2 638 981 with 14 728 new cases reported. Today 384 deaths have been reported bringing the total to 78 377 deaths. The cumulative number of recoveries now stand at 2 402 020 with a recovery rate of 91,0% pic.twitter.com/O96a3HdK02
— Department of Health (@HealthZA) August 18, 2021
Meanwhile, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has also welcomed the decision stating that this now means that all adult residents living in the province will have access to the lifesaving and job-creating vaccines.
“I welcome, with excitement, the announcement today that residents in the 18 to 34-year-old age cohort (or 18+) will be eligible to register and get vaccinated from tomorrow onwards,” Winde indicated.
Registration:
- Visit https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za
- Dial *134*832# and follow the prompts (FREE on all South African Networks); and
- WhatsApp the word REGISTER to 0600 123456.
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Picture: Unsplash