Settlers set to open soon for Covid-19 vaccination grocotts.co.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from grocotts.co.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
But still only healthcare workers for now
Public and private healthcare workers within the Department of Health’s Makana Subdistrict will soon be able to receive Covid-19 vaccinations at Settlers Hospital, says the Health Department’s Makana Subdistrict head Mohamed Docrat. Meanwhile, international research published yesterday in a respected scientific journal reports positively on the efficacy, safety and practicality of the Ad26.COV 2.S (J&J) vaccine. This comes as registration has opened for vaccinations for over-60s scheduled to begin on 17 May and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has recommended lifting the suspension of the J&J Sisonke Vaccination Programme.
South Africa is expected to resume the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to immunise healthcare workers soon, a move that is expected to bring stability in the markets as Covid-19 cases are on the rise. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
SA resumption of vaccine drive expected to stabilise market
By Siphelele Dludla
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JOHANNESBURG - SOUTH Africa is expected to resume the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to immunise healthcare workers soon, a move that is expected to bring stability in the markets as Covid-19 cases are on the rise.
Confidence in the global economic recovery has been rising due to the success of vaccination roll-outs in various countries with investors in South African markets keeping a keen eye on the speed of vaccine delivery as well as the virus infection rate.
Government to lift suspension of J&J Sisonke vaccination programme
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CAPE TOWN - The temporary suspension of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine and the Sisonke Vaccination Programme will be lifted, government announced on Thursday.
Acting Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the temporary suspension in South Africa was in line with the government’s commitment to ensure that comprehensive safety measures are undertaken regarding the vaccine rollout.
“The reviewed data had confirmed that South Africa had not experienced any rare blood clots with the already vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs). Cabinet welcomed the recommendation by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority to lift the suspension of the J&J Sisonke Vaccination Programme,” Ntshavheni said.
South Africa has experienced a “slight increase” in Covid-19 infections over the past two weeks the government’s cabinet noted during its meeting this week.
Cabinet said that it “commended” South Africans for their continued adherence to the non-pharmaceutical health protocols of wearing a mask when in public spaces, maintaining social distancing of about 1.5 metres and always washing hands with soap and water or using a 70% alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
However, it said that the report it had received also indicated a “slight increase of 4,9% in persons testing positive in the past 14 days, by 18 April 2021”.
“The cases increased from 14 113 in the preceding 14 days to 14 807 cases in the last 14 days. The slight increase in cases is attributed to cluster resurgences in the Free State and Northern Cape, and rapid response teams have been activated to conduct contact tracing,” Cabinet said.