HEALTH Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, says government is hoping to inoculate 46.2 million South Africans by March 2022.

However, this is provided the country receives the millions of vaccines that the nation has secured from drug makers.

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“This tally excludes the 500 000 that will be vaccinated under the Sisonke Protocol. We are also hopeful that COVAX will be able to deliver 1.2 million doses this quarter,” the Minister said earlier this week.

South Africa is expecting 31 200 000 Johnson & Johnson jabs and 30 002 310 batches of the Pfizer vaccine which will be delivered in phases.

He also announced that, as of this week, more than 343 000 senior citizens have already registered on the Electronic Vaccine Data System (EVDS).

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Mkhize launched the Covid-19 vaccine online registration for the public last week, starting with those who are aged 60 and above, as the department gears up for phase two of the country’s vaccine rollout.

The mass vaccination campaign is due to commence on 17 May 2021 and Mkhize believes it represents hope for the nation after the social, economic and psychological carnage left by Covid-19.