South Africa has extended the eligibility criteria for COVID-19 vaccination to include pregnant women and people over the age of 40. The decision was announced by Health Minister Joe Phaahla on Tuesday, March 22, 2023, after the country’s health regulator, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for pregnant women and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for people over 40..
The expansion of the vaccination program is part of the government’s efforts to accelerate the rollout of vaccines and reach herd immunity as quickly as possible. South Africa has been facing a third wave of COVID-19 infections, driven by the Omicron variant, and the government is keen to protect as many people as possible from the virus..
Pregnant women and people over 40 are considered to be at higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, so the decision to extend the eligibility criteria to these groups is a welcome one. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective in pregnant women, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective in people over 40..
The government has urged all eligible people to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The vaccines are free of charge and are available at vaccination sites across the country..
In addition to expanding the eligibility criteria for vaccination, the government has also announced a number of other measures to combat the third wave of COVID-19 infections. These measures include:.
* Reinstating a ban on alcohol sales.
* Limiting social gatherings to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
* Closing all schools for two weeks.
* Requiring all businesses to implement strict health and safety protocols.
The government has also urged people to continue to follow the basic COVID-19 prevention measures, such as wearing masks, social distancing, and washing hands frequently..
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on South Africa, both in terms of lives lost and economic damage. The government’s decision to expand the eligibility criteria for vaccination and implement other measures to combat the third wave of infections is a positive step towards protecting the population and getting the country back on track to recovery..
