South Africans form long queues as COVID-19 jabs opened to all adults

JOHANNESBURG: South Africans formed queues hundreds of metres long to get their COVID-19 shots on Friday, after the government made vaccinations available to all adults in order to hasten a rollout beset by challenges and delays.

South Africa has been battered by three coronavirus waves, infecting at least 2.65 million people, killing 78,000 - by far the continent's worst toll - and pummelling an already struggling economy with lockdowns and travel restrictions. On Friday, authorities opened up vaccinations to 18 to 35 year-olds. About 8% of South Africa's population of 60 million is fully vaccinated, and 14% have received one shot.