• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Sci-tech

Vaccinated public reminded to take booster shots

15 January 2022, 11:02 AM  |
SABC SABC |  @SABCNews
A woman holds a small bottle labelled with a "Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine" sticker and a medical syringe in front of displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration taken, October 30, 2020.

A woman holds a small bottle labelled with a "Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine" sticker and a medical syringe in front of displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration taken, October 30, 2020.

Image: Reuters

A woman holds a small bottle labelled with a "Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine" sticker and a medical syringe in front of displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration taken, October 30, 2020.

The Department of Health has reminded the public that booster COVID-19 vaccines are available. People who received the second dose of their Pfizer jab at least six months ago can now get their booster shot.

Johnson and Johnson’s booster vaccines are 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.

The CEO of the South African Medical Research Council, Professor Glenda Gray has encouraged people to take their booster shots.

“It is very good and exciting news and we encourage people who have had the single-dose J&J to go and get vaccinated. We have real-world evidence from SA that this vaccine protects and is very durable. There are other data that we are looking at in the lab that shows great protection against Delta and Omicron – so lovely cross-protection to other variants so it is very important to get your vaccination.”

The Health Department’s Acting Director-General, Dr Nicholas Crisp, has reiterated the call for unvaccinated youth to get the COVID-19 jab.

Dr Crisp was speaking during a virtual media briefing on government’s efforts to fight the pandemic.

“It’s early days in the boosters still as we opened up for booster administration in the Christmas period. But we already started to see a recovery of vaccinations and we hope that as the vaccination sites come up and people get back to their normal lives we will pick up. So this is the challenge that we have – amongst the younger population (between 18-34 and 35-49) both men and women are not as well vaccinated as we need to protect them from severe illness and being admitted into hospital.”

South Africa has reported 5 244 new COVID-19 cases, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 3 552 043. This increase represents a 13% positivity rate.

Due to the ongoing audit exercise by the National Department of Health (NDoH), there may be a backlog of COVID-19 mortality cases reported. On Friday, the NDoH reports 128 deaths and of these, 59 occurred in the past 24 – 48 hours. This brings the total fatalities to 93 117 to date.

Health ministry briefs media on the national vaccination rollout program: 14 January, 2022

Latest SA stats:

Loading...

Loading…

SAPHRA approves J&J COVID-19 boosters

South Africa’s health regulator in December 2021 approved the use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine for a second dose or booster, paving the way for the shot widely used in South Africa to shore up protection against the Omicron variant.

The country already announced in December that it was preparing to offer people booster doses of both the Pfizer and J&J shots, but it did not specify when J&J boosters would be available.

The South African Health Products Authority (SAPHRA) said in a statement that it had approved J&J shots for use as a second dose or booster at least two months after the completion of the person’s primary vaccination, with either J&J’s single-shot course or another approved mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

J&J boosters have so far only been available for health workers, while Pfizer boosters are set to be introduced from January for people who had their second dose six months ago or more.

South Africa has relied heavily on the two companies’ shots in its vaccination campaign, which had given 44% of its adult population at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine earlier this month.

That is more than many African countries but well short of the government’s year-end target.

Share article
Previous Post

Eight killed in an attack on a homestead in Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal

Next Post

Morocco reach last 16, Ghana hopes in peril at Cup of Nations

Related Posts

A member of the Incident Management Team coordinates the search for a radioactive capsule that was lost in transit by a contractor hired by Rio Tinto, at the Emergency Services Complex in Cockburn, Australia, in this undated handout photo. Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

Australian nuclear body joins search for missing radioactive capsule

31 January 2023, 10:13 AM
A man wearing a protective face mask walks past an illustration of a virus outside a regional science centre amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Oldham, Britain August 3, 2020.

WHO maintains highest alert over COVID, but sees hope ahead

30 January 2023, 7:18 PM
FILE PHOTO: Smoke billows from the chimneys of Belchatow Power Station in Poland, Europe's biggest coal-fired power plant, in this May 7, 2009.

Prof Marwala urges leaders to address challenges posed by climate change

30 January 2023, 6:42 PM
[File photo] An employee of Spiez Lab work in the BSL-4 facility that is available to the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a repository for SARS-CoV-2 viruses or other pathogens with epidemic or pandemic potential.

All countries ‘dangerously unprepared’ for future pandemics: IFRC

30 January 2023, 1:42 PM
Cyril Ramaphosa

Ramaphosa reiterates importance of moving towards renewable energy

29 January 2023, 4:33 PM
File image: Water being poured into a bucket.

Water supply reduced as Joburg Water experiences power interruption

29 January 2023, 10:45 AM
Next Post
Africa Cup of Nations - Group C - Morocco v Comoros - Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde, Cameroon - January 14, 2022 Morocco's Youssef En-Nesyri in action with Comoros' Kassim M'Dahoma.

Morocco reach last 16, Ghana hopes in peril at Cup of Nations

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Gas leak shut, isolated in Pretoria North
  • King of Bacardi music ‘Vusi Ma R5’ killed in Soshanguve
  • Bapedi kingdom commemorates Kgosi Mampuru II, still hoping to find his remains
  • Limpopo man arrested after discovery of his wife’s body in water-filled pit toilet
  • EFF cuts ties with IFP in KwaZulu-Natal
  • Parts of the Northern Cape to be exempted from rolling blackouts
  • VIDEO | St Benedict College’s Matric learner gets 11 distinctions
  • Limpopo matriculant from child-headed household attains diploma pass
  • Female circumcision practice thriving in Eastern Cape
  • Premier denies claims that KZN government spent millions on Mampintsha’s funeral
  • King of Bacardi music ‘Vusi Ma R5’ killed in Soshanguve
  • VIDEO: Limpopo comedian’s murder case postponed
  • [WARNING:GRAPHIC CONTENT] Alleged child sex ring kingpin wanted to commit suicide: statement
  • Energy crisis could be declared a national disaster
  • Legitimacy of shooting video in Malema trial under spotlight

LATEST

[File Image] South Africa's Shabnim Ismail celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of England's Sarah Taylor.
  • Sport
  • Cricket

Luus to captain SA Women’s cricket team at ICC T20 World Cup


People collecting water from one of the Water tanker
  • South Africa

Rand Water reservoir levels plummet amid rolling blackouts


  • South Africa

LIVE: EFF leader Julius Malema back in court


A house without power.
  • Eskom rolling blackouts
  • Business

Eskom implements Stage 5 and 6 rolling blackouts


A man walks beneath electricity pylons during frequent power outages from South African utility Eskom, caused by its ageing coal-fired plants, in Orlando, Soweto, South Africa, January 16, 2023.
  • Eskom rolling blackouts
  • Opinion

The energy crisis affects the image of the ANC: analyst


  • Politics

VIDEO | ANC NEC lekgotla outcomes: “We want load shedding to end”


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2022

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous Eight killed in an attack on a homestead in Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal
Next Morocco reach last 16, Ghana hopes in peril at Cup of Nations