Oldest SA Woman Receives Vaccine Shot

As the Department of Health continues its rollout of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine across South Africa, one citizen in particular made history after receiving her jab.

At the age of 119, Nomamelika Philiso has become the oldest person in the country to receive the vaccine. According to reports, she received it at her home in Mandleni, Eastern Cape, on Monday, 7 June.

After she was screened for COVID-19, Philiso was inoculated with her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine with the aid of a senior community nurse, Thobeka Ludidi.

Given that the Pfizer vaccine requires more than one dose, the centenarian is scheduled to receive her second dose 42 days after her first one.

Philiso is one of more than 1.5 million South Africans who have received at least one vaccine dose through the rollout, which is currently in its second phase and is targeted at persons over the age of 60.

South Africa currently has 1 712 939 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Out of that total, 57 310 have succumbed to the virus, while 1 589 501 others have recovered.

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