Acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane announced on Friday that South Africans aged between 50 and 59 years can register for the Covid-19 vaccine from July 1, with vaccinations for this age group scheduled to begin July 15. South Africa is battling a third wave of the pandemic, with Gauteng driving the surge in infections. The province recorded 9 521 new cases in 24 hours, accounting for 59% of the cases nationally. Kubayi-Ngubane said part of government’s surge response is accelerating the vaccine rollout. Pfizer has delivered almost 4.5-million vaccine doses, with a further 2.1-million expected in July. 1.2-million doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine arrived in the country on Thursday and will need to be used by August 11. Workplace vaccinations will be government’s next target area and this includes the taxi industry.
