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Gauteng reaches 3 million mark for Covid-19 vaccines
On Friday alone, the Gauteng health department said over 75,000 jabs were administered.
A nurse administers Bjorn Gerbert with a vaccine jab at the first free drive-thru vaccination site set up by the community in partnership with government at the Zwartkops Raceway along the R55 in Centurion, 13 August 2021. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Gauteng reached a record total of three million Covid-19 vaccines this week, bringing the total of fully vaccinated people in the province to 1,310,372.
On Friday alone, the Gauteng health department said over 75,000 jabs were administered.
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Although hesitant to celebrate just yet, Gauteng health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi said there had been a consistent, albeit slight, decrease in daily Covid-19 cases in the province and the country over the past week.
Months ago, Gauteng was seen as the epicentre of the virus.
Wave overlap possible
The department warned there was always a risk of a resurgence of infections, and that government remained concerned that the lingering third wave could overlap with the fourth wave.
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“We still need to move with speed to vaccinate as many people as possible ahead of the anticipated fourth wave of Covid-19,” Mokgethi urged.
To simplify the process of receiving a vaccine even more, the department reminded residents all Gauteng vaccine sites, both private and public, were accepting walk-ins, regardless of whether people were registered on the EVDS or not.
Those who have already received their first of the two-dose Pfizer vaccine are also reminded to return for their second jab 42 days after the first.
“Given that the Covid-19 vaccines reduce people’s chances of getting severe illness and hospitalisation in the event they contract the coronavirus, all eligible people are urged to prioritise getting their jabs.”
