Covid-19: Four provinces surpass 40% vaccination mark

18th October 2021 By: News24Wire

 Covid-19: Four provinces surpass 40% vaccination mark

Four provinces have vaccinated more than 40% of their adult populations with at least one Covid-19 jab.

The Eastern Cape, Free State, Western Cape and Limpopo have surpassed the 40% mark.

The Western Cape continues to lead, with 44% of those older than 18 having received at least one vaccination. The province has administered vaccines to 2 202 119 adults. There are 1 613 024 fully vaccinated people in the province. In the last week, 174 635 vaccines were administered.

In the Eastern Cape, 1 665 067 people have received at least one jab while 1 286 988 are fully vaccinated. In the last week, 116 585 people received a jab.

The Free State has administered jabs to 776 509 people. Of those, 604 309 are fully vaccinated. In the last week, 70 404 people received a jab.

Limpopo has administered 1 499 564 vaccine doses and has 1 204 205 fully vaccinated individuals. In the last week, 128 580 people received a jab.

More than 14-million people (about 35% of the adult population) have received one dose of the vaccine. This means the government is halfway towards its target of vaccinating 70% of the adult population by the end of December.

As of Sunday, 10 759 752 adults were fully vaccinated (27%) and in the last week, 1 115 437 people received a jab.

On Friday, the Department of Health announced that the vaccination of children aged 12 to 17 would open on Wednesday. This will add another six million people to the programme, and the department is hoping to vaccinate at least half of these by the start of the school holidays.

Those in this age group will only receive one dose of the Pfizer vaccine, Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla said.