If you are older than 50 an additional booster vaccine is now available to provide you with more protection against the Covid-19 virus. <\/p>\n
As of 6 June people older than 50 years became eligible for another Pfizer booster vaccine if they have received their last booster of either Pfizer or J&J at least four months ago.<\/p>\n
Dr Saadiq Kariem, head of operations at the provincial health department, outlines the changes in the vaccinations schedule for this age group as follows: <\/p>\n
If you received the J&J vaccine, the first booster is administered after 60 days since the original dose and the second booster after 90 days since the first booster \u2013 there is a choice between J&J and Pfizer. <\/p>\n
A third additional booster can now be administered 120 days after the second booster.<\/p>\n
Similarly, if you received the full series of Pfizer vaccines, which consists of two doses of the vaccine and one booster shot, a second additional booster can now be administered 120 days after the first booster.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is evident in the recent resurgence of Covid-19 infections that the vaccine does work and offers protection against severe illness and death,\u201d says Kariem. <\/p>\n
According to provincial health, almost 5,5 million vaccines have been administrated leading to about three million people being vaccinated in the Western Cape.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe province has achieved the target of 70% of those aged 60 years and older having received their full primary vaccination series. We now need to focus on 50-59 years to reach 70% coverage while concerted efforts are developed and initiated to increase uptake among younger age groups, especially 18-34 years and 12-17 years,\u201d says a spokesperson for the department.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring this resurgence we have seen new infections increase, but this has not led to admissions and death reaching considerable heights. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur latest data shows that among Covid-19 cases diagnosed in the current resurgence, vaccination provides strong protection against hospitalisation and death with a 3,6 times lower risk if boosted; and severe admission in ICU being 4,3 times lower risk if boosted. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf we really want to stay safe against Covid-19 during this winter, we need to learn to live with the virus in our midst. <\/p>\n
\u201cYet, we still require a big whole of society effort to continue to generate increased targeted demand for unvaccinated persons and the take up of boosters for vaccinated persons,\u201d Kariem adds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you are older than 50 an additional booster vaccine is now available to provide you with more protection against the Covid-19 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