Limpopo healthcare workers line up for booster shot
The Health Department has officially launched the Johnson & Johnson booster shot for healthcare workers at the Pietersburg Hospital on October 15.
POLOKWANE – This comes after new data has shown that protection against Covid-19 increases when a booster shot of the Johnson & Johnson is administered.
“It is critical to prioritise protecting healthcare workers against hospitalisation and death given the predicted fourth wave by epidemiologists. The administration of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 booster shot will increase antibody levels irrespective of age,” Ramathuba said.
Her spokesperson, Thilivhali Muavha, who was at the launch, says the safety profile of the vaccine remained consistent and is still generally well-tolerated when administered as a booster.
Muavha says the department is calling upon all healthcare workers to come for the booster jab and will continue to encourage them.
The nurse who administered the shot, Phillistus Mapulana, explained to nurse Magdeliene Malatji that the booster shot had the same side effects as the first shot.
Malatji says she had no issues with the first jab and is expecting none with this jab either. “I got my first shot and I went straight to the mall to shop. Even with this one I will be going back to work.”
According to the SAcoronavirus website, Limpopo has administered just over 900 000 Pfizer first doses but only administered just over 650 000 second doses leaving around 250 000 people who have not received their second jab.
Muavha says they have noted a reluctance to get the second jab and this is mostly seen in males in the 35 to 45 year age group.
“We have seen a decline in the number of vaccination administered but we are not weary. We will continue to encourage and motivate people to vaccinate as much as we can. Although the numbers are decreasing we are still hopeful to vaccinate around 3.5 million people by the end of the year to reach herd immunity.”
He says the effects of people vaccinating can be seen on the healthcare system as some institutions currently have no Covid-19 admissions and it is mostly unvaccinated people who ended up in the ICU.
Muavha attributed the decline in vaccinations to a national issue saying that was the motivating factor for the national department to incentivise those who vaccinated by offering them a R100 voucher to elderly persons who got vaccinated.
“Our message is clear – we want people to continue coming for their vaccinations. With the vaccinations of children aged between 12 and 18 we are anticipating them to boost the numbers. Right now most of them have prioritised their examinations and we expect them to start queuing once those are done. They are advised to bring with a parent or a guardian who will sign the consent form when they get the jab,” he said.
