Youngsters roll up sleeves for Covid-19 jab

The first day of vaccination of children in the 12 to the 17-year-old cohort on October 20 got off to a good start, with several youngsters descending on the public and private vaccination sites countrywide to get their Covid-19 vaccine.

According to the Department of Health, for now, children in this age group are receiving only one dose of the Pfizer vaccine. They do not require parental consent to get their jabs, as the Children’s Act makes provision for children in this age group to access medical treatment without their parent’s consent under specific guidelines.

In his remarks during a recent media briefing on the Covid-19 vaccination rollout programme, Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla said the Pfizer vaccine has been approved by SAHPRA for this age group and will be used for this purpose.

“The VMAC advised that for now, we only give one dose while assessing information that suggests that in a few cases there have been short-lived cases of transient myocarditis after two doses.
“The timing of the second dose will be informed by further information on this rarely observed side-effect which has no permanent risk,” explained the minister.

Boksburg vaccination sites
The Advertiser visited some of the vaccination sites in Boksburg, the Reiger Park Civic Centre, Boksburg Civic Centre and Medicare24, where eligible teens received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on October 20.

On October 20, Medicare24 inoculated a total of 103 children.

Tristan Wills (17), who was vaccinated at Medicare24, said he is grateful that he got his jab.
“I decided to get the shot so I can protect those around me after my parents also encouraged me to do so. I didn’t feel any pain, and I want to encourage others to also get vaccinated.”

The Advertiser also spoke to one of the parents, Thea Kruger, who brought her 12-year-old granddaughter, Roxanne Meyer, to get the jab at Medicare24.
“I’m over the moon about my granddaughter getting her jab. We decided to get her vaccinated because she is vulnerable to diseases. It’s important to get vaccinated to prevent yourself from ending up in ICU.
“I think it’s a good thing that children in this cohort are not required to get parental consent to get vaccinated, and I believe they are old enough to make their own decisions.
“I hope other parents and grandparents will also encourage their children to do likewise.”

Site manager at Medicare24 Vutlhari Ndlovu said the site is seeing several youngsters heeding the call to get vaccinated.
“Since the facility opened up for children, several youngsters immediately came to get inoculated. This is great considering we just started vaccinating teenagers.
“I believe it’s better to be safe and get the jab. Parents have been asking us when they can bring their children to get vaccinated,” said Ndlovu.

Ndlovu also pointed out the site is decorated with balloons and paintings to create an environment that will help youngsters feel more at ease.
The Medicare24 site operates seven days a week from 07:00 to 20:00.

Meanwhile, at the Reiger Park Civic Centre, only three children were vaccinated on October 20, and the Boksburg Civic Centre vaccinated five children before closing time at 16:00.

One of the children, St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls learner Lea Ait Madi (15), said she is happy she has finally received the vaccine. Lea, who was accompanied by her mother, Avril Davey, got the jab at the Boksburg Civic Centre, hours after registering on the Electronic Vaccination Data System.

Also Read: Vaxx facts: Here’s how to get your vaccine certificate

“The reason I decided to get vaccinated is that I want to play my part in reducing the spread of the virus. This will also enable me to visit my father, who lives in France, without having to quarantine for weeks before I see him.”

Her mother shared she is also fully vaccinated, adding that giving or not giving consent to your child to get vaccinated shouldn’t be a problem because children from the age of 12 to 17 are old enough to know what they want and don’t want.
Downward trend in new Covid-19 cases

Phahla indicated that countrywide the numbers of new infections have continued on a downward trend. They were over the last seven days, from October 15, at a 28% reduction and a 3.5% reduction in hospitalisation. Reported deaths were at the time also down by 16%.
“It will take a little longer to see even lower numbers of people still in hospital.”

By October 22, the country had administered above 20 million vaccine doses, and more than 10 million people were fully vaccinated.
The minister said the Ministerial Advisory Committee has also advised that additional doses be given to individuals with compromised immunity.

These include those on long-term oral steroid therapy for autoimmune conditions, those with haematological or immune malignancies, those with solid organ or bone marrow transplant, renal dialysis and primary immunological disorders.

“The advice is that these categories of patients be offered additional dose over the prescribed normal, but this must be strictly under the referral by their medical doctor under their supervision.

“The other matter we are addressing is boosters, especially for healthcare workers.
“The request is receiving attention and we are working with the SA Medical Research Council on a possible approach and the MRC has applied to SAHPRA to consider a J&J booster to follow the Sisonke study to use this as a second study on the possible benefit of enhanced immunity with a booster of the otherwise one dose vaccine.

“We will wait for the results of this application. We are again calling on all South Africans to come forward and contribute towards their health safety and that of your families, friends and co-workers by vaccinating.”

Also Read: #Covid19vaccine: do you want your children to get vaccinated?

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