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South Africa will provide booster doses of the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Covid-19 vaccines because the Omicron coronavirus variant drives every day infections in the direction of file highs.
Pfizer boosters will likely be obtainable to individuals six months after they obtain their second dose, with the primary individuals changing into eligible late this month, the South Africa well being division’s deputy-director normal, Nicholas Crisp, informed a information convention.
J&J boosters, already obtainable to well being employees in a analysis examine, will likely be rolled out to the final inhabitants quickly, he added.
South Africa reported greater than 22 000 new Covid-19 circumstances on Thursday, a file throughout a fourth wave of infections pushed by the Omicron variant however nonetheless beneath a peak of greater than 26 000 every day circumstances throughout the third wave pushed by the Delta variant.
Addressing the identical information convention, Well being Minister Joe Phaahla mentioned there have been optimistic indicators from early hospital knowledge exhibiting that Omicron seems to be inflicting primarily delicate infections.
Glenda Grey, president of the South African Medical Analysis Council, mentioned there have been much more unvaccinated individuals amongst present hospital admissions.
On the Pfizer vaccine, she mentioned: “We’re seeing this vaccine is sustaining effectiveness. It might be barely diminished, however we’re seeing effectiveness being maintained for hospital admissions and that’s very encouraging.”
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