Health minister Dr Joe Phaahla said that the government plans to open Covid-19 vaccines to all adults in South Africa weeks earlier than expected.
Related Articles:
New mega vaccine site opens at Athlone Stadium
Initially the government had planned to open vaccinations to over 18s from September 1.
Minister Phaahla indicated that the health department is now in consultations to move this date up to the end of this week, subject to cabinet approval.
“We are in further consultations with our leadership in cabinet, (and) we will probably before the end of this week open for all adults above 18.”
“If not this week, then not later than next Monday (23 August) for all adults,” he told 702.
The National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) is expected to meet on Tuesday – and Cabinet, which has to approve the NCCC decisions, on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, South Africa has to date administered 9 557 542 jabs with 158 103 of those being administered on Monday.
In the last 24 hours the country recorded 7 983 new Covid-19 cases bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 2 613 569.
The majority of new cases are from the Western Cape (27%), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (24%).