South Africans urged to get coronavirus vaccine boosters

People who received the second dose of their Pfizer injection at least six months ago can now get their booster injections.

The Department of Health says the Pfizer booster vaccine is only available to eligible people who are over the age of 18.

Johnson and Johnson’s booster shots are already available to those who received their first J&J shot at least two months ago.

Many countries are expanding COVID-19 vaccine booster programmes to shore up protection against the Omicron variant.

“We are now on a new programme to say those who received Pfizer. So, from the 28th of December its six months, they are now eligible for a booster. It is two months after the J&J, which is 24th of October backwards, all those can come forward and six months for Pfizer for those who received it on the 28th of June, they can now come forward and get their booster,” says Deputy Health Minister, Sibongiseni Dhlomo.

Eligible people, who are not yet vaccinated, are also urged to get the injection as it is safe and effective in preventing serious illness and hospitalisation from COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has reported 7 216 new COVID-19 cases that have been identified in South Africa, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3 424 534. 

This increase represents a 23.6% positivity rate. 

As per the National Department of Health, a further 25 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 90 854 to date. 21 106 962 tests have been conducted in both public and private sectors.

Below are the latest coronavirus statistics: