Jonesburg (South Africa), November 19: The National Department of Health on Thursday announced that South Africans over the age of 50 who receive their first shot of the vaccine against COVID-19 can now receive a grocery voucher.
The department said that the "Vooma Vouchers" were aimed at making it easier for older people to get vaccinated by "offsetting some of the costs they incur getting to the vaccination sites."
The Health Department plans to increase the vaccination rate among people in their 50s, as data shows that over 80 percent of COVID-19 deaths have affected this age group.
At the moment, three in five people in their 50s have received at least one jab.
South Africa started to issue "Vooma Vouchers" for people aged 60 and over beginning last month, encouraging them to get the jab.
Currently, over 13 million people have been fully vaccinated in South Africa. With a population of roughly 60 million people, the country is striving to meet its target of vaccinating 70 percent of its adult population by Dec. 31.
Source: Xinhua