By Grace Kuria
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday evening announced that in the last three days, the country received an additional 1.2 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and 1.4 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine through the COVAX facility.
The president said this as he made the announcement of the new COVID-19 restriction measures due to a surge of COVID-19 cases particularly the Delta Variant.
As of Saturday midnight, Ramaphosa said nearly 2.7 million people had received a vaccine dose. In the last week, the daily vaccination rate surpassed 100,000.
The president also said that over 950,000 health care workers have now been vaccinated across the country and the registration and vaccination of this cohort continues.
“The second phase of our roll out has also gone well with the drive for the registration and vaccination of the over 60 year old group continuing to yield good results.” Ramaphosa said.
“Whilst we have yet to reach all of the estimated 5 million citizens in this group, each province has now embarked on social mobilization drives to assist our elderly to register and receive their vaccination.”
The president also cautioned that a lot of misinformation is being circulated about the COVID-19 vaccine.
“False stories are being spread on WhatsApp groups, on social media, and by word of mouth about the COVID-19 vaccine, claiming that the vaccine is not safe, that it can make you sick, or that it doesn’t work.”
“I have said it before, and I wish to say it again: please think long and hard before you press share or send. Please consider the harm you may be causing. You are spreading panic, fear and confusion at a time when we can ill-afford it.” He said.
