New Health Minister Joe Phaahla has called on more men to register for a COVID-19 vaccine – saying the sector has recorded a higher percentage of women having been inoculated. South Africa has recorded 2 568 511 coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic and over 76 000 COVID-19 related deaths.
Over 9 million vaccines have been administered nationwide.
“Our female compatriots are leading in coming forward to be vaccinated – 60% of the women against 40% of men. So, we again call on male counterparts to come forward and register. We also continue to vaccinate at workplaces, farms and mines and factories,” says Phaahla.
Health Ministry media briefing on efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic
Phaahla says while the COVID-19 national positivity rate has dropped slightly in recent weeks, the Department of Health will not recommend moving to a lower lockdown level. Phaahla says South Africa is not yet out of the woods with the deadly third wave and hence the country needs to remain vigilant.
“The third wave is still within our midst. Gauteng province has clearly reached its peak of the third wave. As one province goes down in numbers, another province takes over. Overall in the country, active cases have been reduced by 7%. New cases in the last 7 days have decreased. As the department, we will in no way recommend a relaxation of restrictions, we will recommend remaining at Level 3,” says Phaahla.
Discussing COVID-19 vaccine booster shots with Thabani Maphosa
New mark in vaccination roll-out
Phaahla says South Africa has reached a new milestone – after the country hit the 9 million mark in COVID-19 vaccines administered.
“As of yesterday, as we have been ramping up the vaccination programme, we reached a new landmark of just over 9 million vaccine doses administered. The number of people who have been vaccinated is 7.25 million. The difference between the doses administered and the number of people is because with the Pfizer vaccine it is a double dose. Out of the 9.1 million vaccines administered, 1.9 million were 2nd dose Pfizer vaccines and the fully vaccinated people is with the 1 dose J&J or 2 doses of Pfizer,” says Phaahla.
SA COVID-19 | Prof Tulio De Oliveira on COVID-19 related matters
