Health Minister, Dr. Joe Phaahla says disease-experts have warned that the country can expect the fourth wave of Covid-19, at the earliest, by the middle of December.

During an interview with ENCA, on Sunday, he again urged at-risk South Africans to get themselves vaccinated as soon as possible.

He says the country’s constantly increasing vaccination-rate, currently at more than 40% of the adult population, may help mitigate the severity of the fourth wave.

Follow the Department of Health’s latest Covid-19 updates here.

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Health Minister, Joe Phaahla says only healthcare workers, at this point in time, qualify for and will receive a booster shot of a Covid-19 vaccine.

The Minister was speaking to ENCA on Sunday and said the roll-out of these booster shots is progressing well.

He says close to 82,000 healthcare workers had already received a follow-up dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, as part of phase 2 of the Sisonke study.

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South African vaccination expert, Professor Shabir Madhi has again reiterated calls that residents, older than 50, get their Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

Madhi says older residents, with underlying health conditions, have a higher chance of ending up in hospital, when contracting the virus.

Madhi says the vaccination rate of older residents should be increased as soon as possible, before the resurgence in infections, which is expected by December.

Get the Health Department’s latest Covid-19 updates here.

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Leading South African vaccination expert, professor Shabir Madhi says vaccinating the country’s children, at this point in time, seems to be a waste of valuable doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

Madhi, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of WITS, says children are at a much lower risk of developing severe forms of Covid-19, and getting hospitalized, should they contract the viral-disease.

He says the vaccines, currently being given to 12 to 17-year old children, should rather be administered to older, high-risk patients.

He says healthcare workers should also be prioritized.

Follow the country’s latest vaccination news here.

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The Western Cape Department of Health says national Government is considering to, in future, also vaccinate children, aged 12 to 17, against Covid-19.

The province’s Head of Health, Dr Keith Cloete says the move would help curb the continued spread of the virus.

Cloete said the more South Africans that are vaccinated, the less severe the next wave of the pandemic would be.

He says they are also considering giving people over 50, with underlying health-conditions, and health workers a booster-dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

Access the Western Cape’s latest Covid-19 digicon here.

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