Want both vaccines? Mix the Pfizer and J&J vaccines on request from tomorrow!
Important to note that these boosters are not for people of all ages...
If you want to be extra extra careful and you are fully vaxxed, you will be able to request a mixer booster vaccine, to potentially benefit from what has become known as the "mix and match" approach.
Everyone who got the J&J vaccine can now ask for a dose of Pfizer.
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In this case, you can only get the jab if you got the J&J before Christmas.
For the far more numerous recipients of the Pfizer vaccine, the window opens on Wednesday. At that point, anyone who received a second dose of Pfizer no more recently than 24 November can ask for their third jab to be of the J&J.
It is shared that the mixing of vaccines for booster shots (technically known as heterologous boosters, as opposed to the homologous boosting by way of another dose of the same vaccine) could be beneficial in terms of the protection it provides – as well as making for easier logistics.
READ MORE: SA records new vaccine milestone as 7 million adults now fully vaccinated
Director-General of the Department of Health, Sandile Buthelezi, announced a change in the schedule for the Pfizer vaccine, now branded as Comirnaty.
He also mentioned that instead of waiting 42 days for a second dose, that can now be administered after 21 days has passed.
Now this is amazing! Everyone hated having to wait for so long because they forgot at some point.
The third booster dose of Comirnaty can now be given 90 days after the second, instead of the previous 180.
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If you got the J&J vaccine you are eligible for boosters after 60 days.
In all cases, boosters are only for those 18 or older.
Have a listen to how KZN has been looking in terms of COVID-19 cases and vaccinations:
READ MORE: Pfizer vaccine for children younger than five
The health system will default to homologous boosters, except where the recipient had an adverse reaction when receiving a primary dose. But anyone can mix and match without providing any reason and just by asking, Buthelezi shared.
Vaccinators have suggested phoning ahead to a site to check that the preferred type of vaccine is on offer on the day.
This is a lot of progress for South African healthcare.
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