SA Government aims to vaccinate 67 percent of the population by end of 2021

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize hosted a webinar last night detailing the country's COVID-19 vaccination rollout plan.

“This vaccine needs to be available for the majority of the people. We need to get them rolled out by the end of the 2021. At this point we are targeting 67 percent of the population to achieve herd immunity,” Mkhize said.

Mkhize says the health workers would be first in line to receive the vaccine.

“The first phase has to deal with issue of frontline workers. There is probably over 1,25 million population,” he said.

“The second phase will focus on essential workers, people in congregate settings, deal with elderly and also those with co-morbidities,” Mhkize added.

Now, infections continue to rise across the country.

The health department reported 11 859 new cases last night and 402 COVID-19 related deaths.

85 of those fatalities were from KZN.  There are 63 690 active cases in the province.