Health Minister Joe Phaahla was part of the first group of health-care workers who received their first jab under the Sisonke trial vaccination drive between February and May.
HEALTH Minister Dr Joe Phaahla will receive his Johnson & Johnson booster shot on Tuesday as part of the first group of health-care workers who received their first jab under the Sisonke trial vaccination drive between February and May this year.
Department of Health spokesperson Foster Mohale said the booster shots are critical at this stage.
“Booster doses are needed at some stage of the pandemic especially considering new variants emerging, and boosted immune responses may translate into improved protection, including against variants of concern,” Mohale said.
“They potentially impact on reducing breakthrough infections and may increase protection against hospitalisation.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is fully vaccinated, is in isolation after testing positive for Covid-19 over the weekend.
On Monday, close to 14,000 new Covid-19 cases in South Africa were reported by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in a 24-hour cycle, along with 11 related deaths.
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