Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, says his department remains focused on vaccinating adults against COVID-19, although there are rising infections in children younger than 18.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the vaccines have already been approved by [the South African Health Products Regularity Authority] for even below 18\u2026 Even though we know this, we want to remain focused for now on the high risk [population], which is the older people.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can reach 70% of those aged 50 plus, we will know that when the next wave comes, our hospitals will not be overwhelmed, as it has been,\u201d Phaahla said during a briefing to the media on the COVID-19 pandemic and the country\u2019s vaccine rollout plans.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Last week, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases confirmed that there had been a \u201cshift in the age distribution of cases\u201d from older to younger people, driven by the Delta variant in the third wave.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cSince mid-July, the incidence and proportion testing positive among people under 20 years has increased relative to older age groups. During waves 1 and 2, schools were closed for extended periods, resulting in lower exposure and therefore lower immunity in younger people.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“The reopening of schools in late July, together with the Delta variant, has led to school outbreaks in August. The third wave has seen an increase in the number of children of school-going age testing positive for the virus compared to previous waves,\u201d the institute said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Minister acknowledged higher infection rates in the youth but said the decision to hold back on vaccinating them is expected to be reviewed towards the end of October or just after the Local Government Elections on November 1.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the time we are done with elections, we will see whether there has been a super spreader event or not. By that time, we would have covered a lot [of people]\u2026 and our stock of the vaccine would be improved. We will keep on reviewing [that decision],\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
According to the Minister, just under 30% of people over the age of 50 have been vaccinated.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI am hoping that at the least by the end of October, we could be close to 50%. When we reach that, we might be in a better position to say can we now consider the children below 18,\u201d the Minister said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Source: South African Government News Agency<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, says his department remains focused on vaccinating adults against COVID-19, although there are rising infections in children younger than 18.\u201cSome of the vaccines have already been approved by [the South African Health …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n