GOVERNMENT is under pressure to vaccinate the elderly and vulnerable ahead of an anticipated Covid-19 fourth wave, expected to hit the country next month.
As South Africans make plans for the festive season, the Western Cape government is hoping to achieve vaccination rates of 80% for those over the age of 50, and 65% for those aged 18 to 49.
Of the 1.4 million people over 50 years old in the province, only 58% have been fully vaccinated to date, while the figure for the remainder of the adult population in the region is 31%.
National government embarked on its second Vooma Vaccination drive this weekend to encourage citizens to get the jab as vaccine uptake continues to decline. The first week of November saw the lowest number of administered vaccines – 106 573 doses, compared to 275 326 jabs in September.
On Friday, Health Minister Joe Phaahla said 23.6 million doses had been administered to date to more than 15.8 million South Africans. At least 72 514 doses were administered on election day at the 1 000 temporary sites set up near voting stations.
Phaahla said he expected the country’s vaccination level to reach 40% of the adult population by Monday.
The Western Cape, at 48.20%, is first among four provinces within reach of vaccinating 50% of its adult population. It is followed by the Free State, at 46.88%; Eastern Cape, 45%; and, Limpopo, 44.93%.
Professor of Vaccinology at Wits University, Shabir Madhi, said greater emphasis needs to be placed on vaccinating those aged over 50, instead of playing a numbers game.
“Most critical issue when it comes to (the) overburdening of health services will largely depend on what percentage of people above the age of 50 years are vaccinated. The target should be to have 85-90% of people above the age of 50 vaccinated, rather than simply chasing after the number of vaccines that are administered,” he said.
“It is of little value to be expanding vaccination to children 12-17 years, more so with the suboptimal single dose, rather than using those doses for people older than 60, and those [with] underlying immuno-suppressive medical conditions who require a third dose of vaccine.
“The impact of the next resurgence on health will depend less on how many doses are administered and more on ensuring that the high-risk groups have high vaccine coverage and are optimally protected.”
Madhi said a resurgence of infection was likely to be experienced in the run-up to the December holidays, driven by social interactions.
“The resurgence is more likely to be driven generally by greater social engagement and waning natural-induced protection against infection,” he said.
“It is likely we will experience the start of a resurgence as we head into December, independent of the festive period. However, indoor activities, in particular during the festive period, could accelerate the timing of the peak of the resurgence and magnitude.”
Bryan Torien, 45, from Lansdowne said he would limiting his interactions and has banned unvaccinated people from coming to his home.
“It was a no-brainer for me. My mother, at 73, has had a series of strokes after she had her first when she was 71 years old, and I have Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), which means my immune system is severely compromised. I could easily pick up germs and can just as easily pass them on,” he said.
“We don’t allow just anyone to come to our home. The carer at home is vaccinated, my mother and I are doubly vaccinated.
“Our family is understanding; those who are not [vaccinated] are simply not allowed in . I don’t try to make people do anything they don’t want to do. If you don’t want to get vaccinated, then you guys must congregate without us. What they do is their business.”
Toerien said he was also in discussion with the mother of his 13-year-old daughter to get her vaccinated as well.
On Friday, Deputy Minister in the Presidency Thembi Siweya visited Khayelitsha to encourage residents to get vaccinated. This area, after Mitchell’s Plain, has the lowest number of adults registered for the vaccine, at 30.7%.
“We noticed that Khayelitsha has a low turnout and we are going to have community engagements to find out what the challenges are,” Siweya said.
“We are under pressure to ensure that before the fourth wave comes, if possible, [to] reach herd immunity or get as many people as possible vaccinated.”
Western Cape Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo was in Piketberg in the Bergriver Municipality yesterday to encourage people to vaccinate. The area currently only has 36% of its adult population vaccinated.