Ramaphosa urges for patience amid Covid jab rollout
South Africa will have administered more than a million Covid-19 vaccinations to vulnerable groups by the end of this week.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the registration and vaccination of those aged 60 and over - are going well.
We entered Alert Level Two of the lockdown on Monday morning, after a significant increase in the number of infections in parts of the country.
READ: Almost 50 000 active Covid-19 cases in SA
Ramaphosa says over 480 000 people have received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine so far.
He says we have enough doses to administer to 40 million people but our sole reliance on the Pfizer vaccine, at the moment, has affected the pace at which vaccination sites are opening their doors.
The President says the Pfizer jab requires an ultra-cold supply chain and sites in rural areas are limited.
"When the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been cleared, it will be much easier to administer. It is a single dose vaccine and can be stored in a normal fridge. While our vaccine rollout ramps up over the coming weeks, I urge everyone to be patient and to await their turn."
He says over 67% of public health workers have been vaccinated so far, and more than 3 million people have registered via the EVD System.
"All of the vaccines that are approved for use in South Africa are safe and effective.They have carefully been tested in large trials and subjected to a rigorous approval process by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority and by a number of health authorities around the world.
READ: Ramaphosa: An additional 500,000 Pfizer vaccine doses have touched down in SA
"Most importantly, they all provide protection against severe illness or death as a result of COVID-19."
Ramaphosa's attributed the country's latest surge in infections to social gatherings and a disregard for health protocols like wearing masks in public.
