According to a circular published on the Department of Health’s website, “individuals older than 18-years who have received one dose of the Janssen® Covid (J&J) the vaccine will be eligible to receive a booster dose of the J&J vaccine after an interval of two months (60 days)”. The notice reads that whilst the booster dose should preferably be given within six months of the previous dose, there is no upper limit to the interval. “The booster dose can be given more than six months after the first dose.

In practice, this means that anyone who received one dose of the J&J vaccine on or before October 24 last year, will immediately be eligible to receive a booster dose of the J&J vaccine. “Additional individuals will sequentially become eligible once the interval of 60 days has elapsed.” It says that immunocompromised individuals who have received an additional dose of the J&J vaccine will become eligible to receive another booster dose 60 days after receiving the additional dose. People who have received the Pfizer vaccine will be eligible to receive a booster dose of the vaccine after an interval of six months (180 days).

Also read: Covid-19 booster shot for immunocompromised South Africans

“However, there is no upper limit to the interval i.e. the booster dose can be given more than 180 days after the second dose. “The first people to receive their second Pfizer dose was eligible to
receive a booster on December 28, 2021. “Immunocompromised individuals who have received an additional dose of the Pfizer vaccine (the booster shot) will become eligible to receive another booster dose 180 days after receiving the additional dose of the vaccine.” The notice reads that only homologous boosting is currently permitted. This means that individuals may only receive the same vaccine that they received as their primary vaccination series. Visit your nearest vaccination centre for more information or visit the website sacoronavirus.co.za.