Covid 19 Vaccine

What is a COVID-19 vaccine?

A vaccine is intended to provide immunity against COVID-19. In general, vaccines contain weakened or inactive parts of a particular organism that triggers an immune response within the body. This weakened version will not cause the disease in the person receiving the vaccine, but it will prompt their immune system to respond. Some vaccines require multiple doses, given weeks or months apart. This is sometimes needed to allow for the production of long-lived antibodies and development of memory cells. In this way, the body is trained to fight the specific disease-causing organism, building up memory against the pathogen so it can fight it in the future.

What process is followed before a vaccine is given to the public?

Before COVID-19 vaccines can be delivered:

• The vaccines must be proven to be safe and effective in large clinical trials.
• A series of independent reviews of the efficacy and safety evidence is required.
• The evidence must also be reviewed for the purpose of policy recommendations on how the vaccines should be used.
• An external panel of experts convened by WHO, called the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), analyses the results from clinical trials.
• The panel then recommends whether and how the vaccines should be used.
• Officials in individual countries decide whether to approve the vaccines for national use and develop policies on how to use the vaccines in their country, based on the recommendations by the WHO.

Residents aged 18 years and older can register for their Covid-19 vaccine

From Friday, 20 August 2021 people aged 18 years and older can register for the Covid-19 vaccine.

To Register:
- Visit https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za/#/
- Dail *134*832# and follow the prompts;
- WhatsApp the word REGISTER to 0600 123456; or
- Visit your nearest Laingsburg Hospital and ask for assistance.

Vaccinations will be allocated in the Following order of priority:

Priority 1 – people 60 years and older requiring their 1st dose of Pfizer vaccine;

Priority 2 – people 60 years and older requiring their 2nd dose of Pfizer vaccine (approximately 42 days after their 1st dose);

Priority 3 – people aged 50 – 59 years requiring their 1st dose of Pfizer vaccine;

Priority 4 – people aged 35 – 49 years requiring their 1st dose of Pfizer vaccine.

We ask citizens eligible for vaccination to take up this opportunity to be vaccinated as the vaccine offers great protection against severe illness and death from COVID-19. Registrations for all citizen 35 years and older are open and we remind persons in these age groups to register for your vaccines. Citizens 60 years and older who have not registered, or have not received an appointment, are urged to please present to their closest public sector vaccination site for assisted registration and vaccination.