Push to get more people jabbed as Covid vaccines set to expire

Health Minister Joe Phaahla says the Pfizer jabs are due to expire at the end of this month.

He says the number of people arriving at sites for vaccination has dropped. 

READ: Phaahla says Covid-19 almost under control

Speaking during a briefing today, Phaahla said the rate were particularly low among young people in the 18-34 age group.

He says only 34% of this cohort has received one jab while 29 percent are fully vaccinated.

The minister has urged the country's youth and other eligible unvaccinated individuals to get vaccinated to help push the country towards herd immunity.

The health ministry also says it will soon present proposed amendments to the regulations to the National Coronavirus Command Council.

"Reviewed health regulations and other regulations from other departments will assist in guiding the reopening on more economic and social activities especially in the leisure and tourism areas, reopening with less risk of super-spreaders.

"The proposals will include amendments to travel requirements which could make it easier and cheaper to travel into South Africa and out of South Africa."  

ALSO READ: Govt to provide clarity on mandatory Covid-19 vaccine policy, says Phaahla

Phaahla has stressed that this does not mean the end of the global pandemic. 

"As can be seen with the numbers I mentioned of 10 million new infections in a week and over 60 000 deaths in one week globally and they have stated that we must avoid reversing the hard earned gains we have made as we strive to end the pandemic."