Shorter waiting times for Covid-19 vaccines and boosters

The government has announced changes regarding the administration of both Pfizer and J&J vaccines.

The Department of Health said the changes to its vaccination programme are guided by scientific evidence to increase the uptake of Covid-19 vaccines in South Africa.

As of February 23, the time intervals between the first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine changed from 42 days to 21 days. The department also announced that the interval between vaccines as well as booster shots has been reduced.

Additionally, people who are fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine can now receive a booster shot 90 days after the second dose, instead of the current six-month waiting period.

People above the age of 18 who have their J&J vaccine will now be able to receive a booster shot of either the same vaccine or Pfizer after a waiting period of two months. Those that received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be able to get a booster shot of either Pfizer or J&J at least three months after their second dose.

The department has explained that this is called heterologous booster doses, meaning booster doses are of a different vaccine to which was administered as the primary dose. The choice will be up to the person but the government has encouraged the public to take a booster shot matching their original vaccination which has been termed as homologous boosting as opposed to heterologous.

As of February 21, these are the public and private vaccination sites people of Region B and around can visit to get their jab to protect them against severe illness, hospitalisation and death caused by the coronavirus:

Sub-district B

• Danny Van Zyl Recreational Centre, Rex Street, Montclare
• Berario Recreational Hall, 347 Hoover and Dolores Street, Berario
• Parkhurst Creational Centre, Corner of 5th Avenue and 24th Street, Parkhurst
• Windsor Clinic, Corner of Earls Avenue and Beatrice Street, Windsor East
• Bosmont Clinic, Corner of Maraisburg and Griffith roads, Bosmont
• Riverlea Clinic, 1 Colorado Drive, Riverlea

  Sub-district C

• Cosmo City Multipurpose Centre, 154 Angola Avenue, Cosmo City
• Discoverers Community Healthcare Centre, 35 Clarendon Drive, Discovery
• Roodeport Town Hall, 7 Rex Street, Roodepoort
• Witpooitjie Recreational Centre, 8 Harry Street, Princess
• Zandspruit Shopping Centre, Corner of Beyers Naudé and Marina Drive, Zandspruit

  Sub-district E

• Alexandra Community Healthcare Centre, 33 Arkwright Avenue, Wynberg
• Sports Complex Alexandra Eastbank (Altrek Stadium), 410 East Bank Avenue, Alexandra
• Marlboro Recreational Centre, 52 Zinnia Drive, Malboro Gardens
• Wendywood Sports and Recreational Centre, 89 Darwin Street, Wendywood
• Sandown Clinic, 139 West Street, Sandown

Department urges all those visiting the vaccination sites for both on-site registration and vaccination, especially senior citizens, to remain vigilant of any criminal activities. Such activities and suspicious activity should be reported to the police as soon as possible.