South Africa’s coronavirus vaccination programme, now in its second month after vaccinating over 200,000 people, has been extended to 54 sites across the country, Acting Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on Thursday.
Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Ntshavheni said the programme has vaccinated more than 207,808 people in its first phase of three months starting from February.
The programme has targeted 1.5 million people, starting with health care workers and other front-liners getting the Johnson & Johnson jab after it kicked off with its role model and President Cyril Ramaphosa getting the first injection in Cape Town in February.
“There are three phases to the nationwide vaccination rollout and the health ministry is on track to vaccinating all health care workers by the end of the first phase in April,” Ntshavheni said.
According to the minister, the second phase will run for six months from May to October.
“This phase will cover over 13,350,140 people among vulnerable groups, essential workers, and the occupational health and safety streams.
“These will include workers in sectors that are critical for economic recovery such as mines, hospitality, the taxi industry, retail and spaza shops, fruit and vegetable vendors, media and other applicable beneficiaries,” Ntshavheni said.
The vaccination sites for second and third phases would be increased to 2,085 places and would include private sector sites to improve the efficiency and speed of the vaccination roll out programme, she added.
The third phase would be implemented over three months from November 2021 to February 2022 to cover the remainder of all South Africans, the minister said.
The third phase has targeted 22,600,640 people nationwide, she said.
NM/jn/APA