According to the latest figures by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), the province is overtaken by only the Western Cape in that regard, with 48,45% of adults above the age of 18-years in that province, having had had their first jabs of either vaccine. 

Overall over 40% of adult South Africans have received their first J & J or Pfizer jabs. Immunizations officer at the World Health Officer (WHO), Messeret Shibeshi, tells OFM News that generally South Africa is faring well when compared to most of its African counterparts. This is with respect to the utilisation of the over 271 million doses that have been availed to the continent.

Shibeshi says countries like South Sudan and Ethiopia have very low vaccine utilisation rates, meaning that the vaccines are available in the country but are not being administered or are not reaching the people at a quick pace.

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Shibeshi’s sentiments come as Europe has become the epicentre of the pandemic again, prompting some governments to consider re-imposing stringent lockdown regulations in lead up to the festive season.

With respect to fully vaccinating its target population, South Africa lags behind the island nations of Seychelles and Mauritius who have, as of November, managed to fully vaccinate 77% and 67% of their target populations respectively. The island nations have been flooded by tourists since lifting lockdown restrictions.

In the meantime, South Africa healthcare workers who have had their first J & J jab in the Sisonke trials, are now eligible for their booster shot ahead of the fourth wave. The Free State’s vaccination performance is reflected in the number of new Covid-19 cases reported in the Free State as of 14 November, with only 20 of the 262 reported new cases coming from the central South African province.  

OFM News