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- Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says more than 300 000 Pfizer vaccines have arrived in SA.
- This is the first of weekly deliveries.
- Citizens who are aged 60 and older are urged to register for the vaccine.
The first batch of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines has landed at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
In a social media post on Monday morning, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said the 325 260 doses arrived in South Africa on Sunday night.
A weekly arrival of the same number of doses is expected until the end of May, which will provide the country's vaccination programme with 1.3 million doses by the end of the month.
The first batch of Pfizer vaccines
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) May 3, 2021
have landed at OR Tambo International Airport. pic.twitter.com/eOlrWWBkfl
"Thereafter, the vaccine supply will increase to an average of 636 480 doses weekly from 31 May, which will see us accumulating close to 4.5 million doses by the end of June," the health minister said in a statement.
A shipment of Johnson & Johnson vaccines is also expected to be ready in the middle of the month.
READ | Study reveals six in 10 people were concerned vaccines wouldn't reach SA
"In the meantime, we will continue to vaccinate our healthcare workers with the remaining early access doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines (through the Sisonke protocol), and we will proceed to vaccinate with Pfizer.
The statement added:
Slow registration
According to Netwerk24, only around 10% of people who are aged 60 and older have registered for the vaccination.
Only 500 000 people who fall in this age bracket have reportedly registered, although there are around five million.
The second phase of the vaccine rollout is expected to begin on 17 May, targeting citizens aged 60 and older.
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