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Health department aims to vaccinate over 300 000 people per day: Kubayi

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Acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi says the sector is still working towards vaccinating over 300 000 people per day. South Africa has administered over 7.2 million vaccines so far – with the department aiming to increase vaccinations in August. Currently, at least 215 000 vaccines are being administered daily.

Kubayi has reiterated the need for people to get inoculated against the coronavirus – saying this would help reduce the number of COVID-19 related deaths.

“With expected vaccine batches from J&J and Pfizer in the coming days, we are expecting that the vaccination programme will pick up the momentum, such that we will be able to reach 300 000. Some of the colleagues in the private sector are saying we should be able to reach around 400 000 vaccinations per day. As we observe, we will see which ones we need capacity to enable the fast-tracking of the vaccine and ensuring that the vaccine reaches as many people as possible so we are able to intervene,” says Kubayi.

Acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi briefing on COVID-19 and vaccination rollout plan

Kubayi says the rise in new COVID-19 cases in the Western Cape is concerning. Kubayi says while the country has reached its third wave peak with the overall numbers having decreased, the Western Cape is experiencing an increase in new infections with more than 3 400 people hospitalised. 29% of new infections in the past 24 hours were recorded in the province.

Kubayi says they are closely monitoring the infection rate in that province as well as KwaZulu-Natal which is also showing an increase in new infections.

“The majority of new cases in the last 24 hours are from Western Cape with followed by Gauteng which is still a bit higher with 27 new cases. We’ll be keenly watching the situation so that if the numbers continue to rise we can ask the NCCC and cabinet to take the necessary interventions,” says Kubayi.

 

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