CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 20: New Health Minister Joe Phaahla and Western Cape Health minister Nomafrench Mbombo on a site visit at the Grand West on August 20, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa – Gallo Images / Brenton Geach
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 20: New Health Minister Joe Phaahla and Western Cape Health minister Nomafrench Mbombo on a site visit at the Grand West on August 20, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa – Gallo Images / Brenton Geach
Health Minister Joe Phaahla has confirmed that SA citizens who have received their COVID-19 jabs will soon be issued with ‘digital vaccination certificates’ by the end of next week.
Phaahla, addressing an early morning media briefing, revealed that the document would be accessible via a smartphone, but a physical copy can also be printed off and stored in person. The minister went on to state:
Just over 26% of the South African adult population has been vaccinated against the virus, with the Western Cape leading all other provinces in its jabbing rates – 34% of citizens here are now fully immunised against COVID-19. In the Friday morning presser. Phaahla reassured the earliest recipients of the shots that they would also get a certificate.
“The department will commence with the development of a digital vaccination certificate. The certificates will be available in just over one week – even to those who received their jab a few months ago. We have made sure that this certificate will be protected from fraud, can be accessed on a smartphone, and can be printed.”
On Wednesday, Deputy President David Mabuza suggested that the country would need to hit ‘a 70% vaccination rate’ before stadiums and concert venues could fully reopen. He believes this target can be reached before the end of the year, but it’ll be touch and go to see if as many as 7 out of 10 South Africans actually do get vaccinated.
The digital certificate would be used as a tool for citizens to gain entry into venues that choose to make vaccination status a condition of entry. As South Africa heads into 2022, more facilities will be able to exercise this right. Although some worry about the infringement on personal rights, others believe it is a necessary move to ease COVID risks.
#Phaahla: [Thread] 1. BREAKING
— Mia Malan (@miamalan) September 10, 2021
1. In about 1 week, vaccinated SAs are likely to be issued with digital vaccination certificates
2. The certificates can be uploaded onto smart phones + will be printable
3. You can only get a certificate if your vax details = recorded on the #EVDS