The Department of Health has again fallen short of its target to vaccinate 500 000 people against Covid-19 over three days.

The government held a second Vooma Vaccination Weekend from Friday to Sunday in an effort to ramp-up vaccinations in the country ahead of the festive season. The drive saw vaccination sites open across the country, with the goal of ensuring 95% capacity on the Saturday. The Sunday leg of the campaign focused on faith-based communities.

The low turnout also saw the country fall short of reaching the 24-million vaccination mark. As of Sunday, 23 950 956 jabs had been administered.

The first Vooma Vaccination Weekend, during the first weekend in October, achieved 75% of its target of 500 000 vaccinations over the three-day period, with around 350 000 people vaccinated.

This weekend's drive saw an even lower vaccine uptake, with around 260 000 people jabbed over the three days.

Between Friday and Sunday, 264 573 people were vaccinated. The vaccination drive peaked on Friday, with more than 150 000 vaccine doses administered. Saturday saw around 78 000 jabs administered.

According to statistics from the health department, more than 37 000 people were vaccinated on Sunday.

The increased vaccination efforts have pushed the number of people vaccinated with at least one vaccine dose to more than 40% of the adult population. As of Sunday, 15 940 396 people received at least one vaccine dose.

Ahead of the weekend drive, Health Minister Joe Phaahla reassured South Africans that the government had enough capacity to vaccinate every adult in the country by December.

He said vaccination remained the best way to stave off an impending fourth wave, especially as one of the factors driving the fourth wave was the movement of people, which was expected to increase over the festive season.