The Solidarity Fund, set up to mobilize money to help South Africa fight the COVID-19 pandemic, plans to spend 500 million rand ($33 million) to boost the country's vaccine-rollout program.

The fund will use 250 million rand from its own account and an equal amount raised from donors, Chief Executive Officer Tandi Nzimande said in an emailed response to questions on Tuesday.

The African country started administering coronavirus vaccines on Feb. 17, with health-care workers receiving the first single-shot doses developed by Johnson & Johnson. The government aims to inoculate two-thirds of the population by year-end and says it's secured enough vaccines to meet that goal.

The support will help take pressure off a government trying to contain spending after a surge in debt and an economic contraction because of lockdowns to contain the pandemic. 

The National Treasury has set aside 10.3 billion rand for vaccines for the next three years, with another 9 billion available in an emergency fund.

The Solidarity Fund is in talks with the health ministry and other parties to identify what else can be done to accelerate the rollout of vaccines, Nzimande said.

(With input from agencies)