JOHANNESBURG, June 6 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's health department officials announced that people aged 50 and older will be eligible for a second booster dose of Pfizer vaccine from Monday.

       All people in this age group who have received either Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at least 120 days or four months prior may receive the additional booster.

       "This is part of efforts by the government to increase vaccine uptake to achieve population immunity while protecting the most vulnerable groups, especially those living with comorbidities such as diabetes, and hypertension," department's spokesperson Foster Mohale said Monday. "The Pfizer vaccine has shown to be safe and effective for boosting immunity in older persons who remain at highest risk of severe disease and death from COVID-19."

       More than 7 million of nearly 20 million adults who have been vaccinated in the country so far are aged 50 and older, according to the health department. With the launch of FindMyJab.co.za, the Department in conjunction with Right-to-Care has made it easier for anyone to locate a vaccination site using a smartphone, laptop, tablet, etc.

       "We applaud older people for coming forward in large numbers and we encourage all individuals who have not had their second dose or booster dose to go to their nearest vaccination site," Mohale said.

       According to the statistics released by the Department of Health Sunday, within the last 24 hours, 1,127 new COVID-19 cases were identified in South Africa, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases up to 3,968,205.