The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has reiterated that despite the chances of COVID-19 infection being the same for the young and elderly, unvaccinated children have a better chance of withstanding severe illness and death.
This comes against the backdrop of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) and three other organisations, launching a court challenge against the vaccination of children against COVID-19.
The Caring Healthcare Workers Coalition, Free the Children, Save the Nation, and the COVID Care Alliance and the ACDP will launch an urgent application to be heard at the High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday, to halt the vaccination of children between the ages of 12 and 17.
The NICD’s Doctor Bhinam Jinal says, “So even though the 70–year-old might receive the vaccine and make a response to SARS-COV-2, let’s say after a year or so, their body will forget that they ever got that vaccine and that’s where the difference lies whereas an 18-year- old has a robust young system, so even if they get infected, they’re not vaccinated, their body can fight it off much easier than somebody who is older.”
VIDEO: Last month, the ACDP marched against mandatory COVID-19 vaccination:
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The government will be administering one dose of Pfizer vaccine in line with the recommendations of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Vaccines.
This follows an announcement made by Minister Health Dr. Joe Phaahla that all children 12-17 years and older will be eligible to receive one dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
The announcement has drawn mixed reactions on whether it is an appropriate decision by the government to vaccinate young people without parental consent.
National Health’s Acting Director-General Dr. Nicholas Crisp explains why children should get vaccinated:
