President Cyril Ramaphosa led the inaugural Vooma Vaccination Weekend on Friday, hoping to mobilise citizens and people living in South Africa to get vaccinated to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Government is rolling out its nationwide vaccination drive on October 1 and 2 with the hopes of vaccinating at least half a million people within the weekend.

The public and private health sectors, organised labour, business, and community- and faith-based formations will join forces in the vaccination drive themed Vooma Vaccination Weekend.

Speaking in Katlehong, in Gauteng, Ramaphosa said vaccination was by far the best defence against Covid-19.

He added that it was possible to vaccinate 17-million people by the end of this year (government’s target) as other countries were able to achieve that.

"Vaccines are safe and easy to receive. They protect people against serious illness, hospitalisation and death. And when the majority of people in the country are vaccinated, the nation will experience a greater sense of freedom and safety in social interactions and economic activity,” he said.

He urged people to protect themselves, their families and friends by getting vaccinated.

Vaccines are free and vaccination centres, including pop-ups, will be open all day on Friday and Saturday, across the country as part of the Vooma Vaccination Weekend.