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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- Only healthcare workers, at this point in time, will receive a booster shot of a Covid-19 vaccine.
- Phaahla: “Lessons learned in first three waves helped country prepare for the next wave.”
- Worrying uptake of Covid-19 vaccines among young people.
As of today the cumulative number of #COVID19 cases identified in SA is 2 929 862 with 687 new cases reported. Today 2 deaths have been reported bringing the total to 89 574 deaths. The cumulative number of recoveries now stand at 2 821 141 with a recovery rate of 96,3% pic.twitter.com/J42Kg0c0pS
— Department of Health (@HealthZA) November 21, 2021
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.
Follow the Health Department’s latest Covid-19 updates here.
Related articles:
- Phaahla: “Lessons learned in first three waves helped country prepare for the next wave.”
- Worrying uptake of Covid-19 vaccines among young people.
- Residents, older than 50, should get their Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible.
As of today the cumulative number of #COVID19 cases identified in SA is 2 929 862 with 687 new cases reported. Today 2 deaths have been reported bringing the total to 89 574 deaths. The cumulative number of recoveries now stand at 2 821 141 with a recovery rate of 96,3% pic.twitter.com/J42Kg0c0pS
— Department of Health (@HealthZA) November 21, 2021
The Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine protected between 91 and 96% of healthcare workers against death.
This, according to researchers heading the Sisonke Covid-19 vaccine study, which was piloted here in South Africa.
According to co-lead investigator, professor Glenda Gray, the study was rolled-out to just under 500-thousand healthcare workers at 120 health-care sites.
Gray says the vaccine also proved to be effective against the Delta-variant of Covid-19.
Watch the full briefing here.
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- Unvaccinated Western Cape residents at high risk of developing severe Covid-19.
- Winde: Increased herd-immunity could encourage overseas travelers to visit the Western Cape.
- Vaccination-fraudsters to face full might of the law.
[Thread] 1. Glenda Gray, co-lead investigator, #Sisonke:
We now have results to show the #JnJ jab provides significant protection @ the #DeltaVariant in SA.
What is Sisonke?
The Sisonke study used the #JnJ jab to look @ the effectiveness of the jab among SA #HealthWorkers pic.twitter.com/L4lrfPmLL9
— Mia Malan (@miamalan) August 6, 2021
2. Gray:
1. #Sisonke vaccinated 477 234 #HealthWorkers
2. 122 sites were used to vaccinate health workers pic.twitter.com/OtDB53nNnx— Mia Malan (@miamalan) August 6, 2021
