Government will hold its next Vooma Vaccination Weekend between November 12 and 14, and this time it hopes to achieve 100% success rate of vaccinating 500 000 people over three days.

In September the Vooma Vaccination Weekend achieved 75% of its target.

“This target will only be achieved if there can be even greater mobilisation across all sectors of society, hence the president has called upon all leaders across various sectors of society to join hands with government,” says Health Department spokesperson Foster Mohale.

He says this Vaccination Weekend comes at a time when the rate of new Covid-19 infections is low in South Africa, but that a Covid-19 fourth wave is expected early in the new year.

He added that while the country is unlikely to avert the fourth wave, a higher vaccination rate over the next month could substantially reduce its impact, especially if coverage among people aged 50 and older is accelerated.

“Three out of five people aged 50 and older have now had at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine,” says Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla. “If we can get close to five out of five people in this age group vaccinated by the end of the year, we will crush the power of the fourth wave by substantially reducing the number of hospital admissions and deaths.”

Almost 16-million South Africans have been vaccinated to date.

Vaccination sites will be open across the country during Vooma Vaccination Weekend, and the goal is to ensure at least 95% capacity on the Saturday. 

While fewer sites will open on Sunday, the focus will be on outreach to large faith-congregations willing to be vaccinated on that day, says Mohale.