Good news for 18-34 age group; it’s your turn to get vaccinated in September

AS PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa announced the easing of restrictions on Sunday night, many were breathing a sigh of relief.

The president said government would also start Covid-19 vaccinations of people in the 18 to 34 age group from September 1.

"We will now allow people between the ages of 18 and 34 to be vaccinated from September 1.

“This will be in addition to the age groups that are currently eligible, which is everyone over 35 years of age,“he said.

From September 1, the Department of Health will allow people to present themselves at a vaccination site without an appointment to be registered and vaccinated.

Infection rates, after hitting a peak of about 26 500 cases a day in early July, have declined to an average of around 12 000 a day in the past seven days, with the worst hit province Gauteng reporting a steep fall in cases.

Ramaphosa said South Africa would get 31 million doses of the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines over the next three months.

That would ensure the country had sufficient vaccines for the rest of the year.

South Africa has vaccinated only 4% of a population of roughly 60 million people.

Ramaphosa said the country has to contain the spread of the coronavirus and limit its impact on economic activity by accelerating the vaccination programme.

The aim was to vaccinate the vast majority of adult South Africans before the end of the year.

“The coronavirus pandemic is the greatest threat to the lives of our people and to the recovery and transformation of our economy,” he said. Twitter has been inundated with comments from those who fall within the age group; many welcoming the news.

South Africans can register online via WhatsApp or USSD, or by calling the toll-free number 0800 029 999.