Photo: JACK GUEZ / AFP
SA hits more than 12 million vaccine doses administered
The South African cabinet has urged citizens, especially adults and those at high risk of severe illness, to get the Covid-19 vaccine.
Photo: JACK GUEZ / AFP
South Africa has administered more than 12 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine national cabinet announced on Thursday.
The cabinet said in the statement that it had been apprised by the Department of Health on the progress of the Vaccination Roll-out Programme, which had included epidemiology and surveillance. Cabinet noted that there had been decline in new infections, as well as hospital admissions and reported death cases. Cabinet however noted the increase in infection reproduction rates.
“The Department of Health assured Cabinet that more work is being done to understand and contain the reported school cluster outbreaks, particularly in the Eastern Cape,” cabinet said.
Meanwhile, cabinet has appealed to parents, learners and school governing bodies to ensure that there is strict adherence to the wearing of masks, ventilation, social distancing and hand washing hygiene.
“Strict adherence to the non-pharmaceutical health protocols remains the most effective defence against the spread of the virus,” cabinet said.
By 31 August 2021, more than 12 568 525 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had already been administered to people across the country, cabinet said.
“The increased number of vaccination sites, and extended vaccination days and the provision of free transport by provinces, will result in a significant increase in the number of people who will be fully vaccinated,” Cabinet said.
Cabinet encouraged unvaccinated people in the country, especially adults and those at high risk of developing severe illness, to vaccinate as quickly as possible.
“Vaccines hold good benefits for our health as they prevent serious illness, hospitalisation and death. Let us fight the virus together by spreading verified information about vaccines provided by the Department of Health and World Health Organisation,” Cabinet said.
Reports have indicated that myths about the risks of the Covid-19 have deterred some citizens from visiting local vaccination centres to take the jab.
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