GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - The Western Cape Department of Health says it is very important that people keep up vaccination after their first (primary) vaccine, to include additional (booster) doses where available.
In a statement the department says the booster dose helps people maintain strong protection from severe coronavirus disease. These booster doses are available to all persons, aged 18 years and older.
Individuals who have received one dose of the J&J vaccine will be eligible to receive a booster dose of the J&J vaccine after an interval of at least two months (60 days).
Individuals who have received two primary doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be eligible to receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine after an interval of at least six months (180 days).
Booster
It is given after the protection provided by the original shot has begun to decrease over time. The booster helps people maintain strong protection from severe coronavirus disease. Research has shown that over time the protection against infection, and to a lesser degree severe disease, may drop to below satisfactory levels.
This is when booster doses are recommended. It will also increase immunity against possible new variants.
With regards to concerns about the vaccine, the department says it is understandable that people may have safety concerns about taking up any vaccine.
"After getting vaccinated for Covid-19, you may well experience some temporary symptoms like those you might notice when you get a flu shot, such as a sore, swollen arm where you got the shot.
"You might run a fever and experience body aches, headaches, and tiredness for a day or two. Chills and swollen lymph nodes can also occur. While these symptoms are inconvenient and mildly unpleasant, they do not mean you are sick, and are actually a good thing, as they signal that your immune system is responding to the shots and building up protection against the coronavirus."
At the end of January, 77 615 people in the province had already had their booster dose since it became available in late December 2021.
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