herd immunity - The African Mirror

May

2021

South Africa’s daunting COVID-19 vaccine rollout

GUY OLIVER IN May, South Africa begins its mass COVID-19 vaccination campaign, aimed at reaching 40 million people – the minimum to reach herd immunity – by the beginning of next year. As even wealthy nations are struggling with their rollouts, the South African campaign will be keenly watched by other developing countries. Like much of the Global South, South Africa is dealing with issues around procuring enough vaccines; the logistical hurdles of delivering them; and the communication challenges in overcoming vaccine hesitancy. The campaign will be rolled out into one of the world’s most unequal societies. About one in five…

Jan

2021

By The African Mirror

South Africa aims to vaccinate for herd immunity

COVID-19

TIM COCKS SOUTH Africa will vaccinate 40 million people, or two-thirds of its population, against COVID-19 in order to achieve herd immunity, its health minister has said, as a mutant variant drove daily new cases above 21,000 for the first time. He spoke as the government said it would receive 1.5 million doses of AstraZeneca's shot from the Serum Institute of India (SII), spread over January and February. Health workers have voiced concern that authorities have not acted fast enough to secure enough vaccines. A more contagious coronavirus variant, first found on South Africa's east coast late last year, is…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Misinformation could prompt people to turn against COVID-19 vaccines – study

COVID-19

KATE KELLAND CONSPIRACY theories and misinformation fuel mistrust in vaccines and could push levels that potential COVID-19 vaccines are taken in the United States and Britain below the rates needed to protect communities against the disease, a study has found. The study of 8,000 people in the two countries found that fewer people would "definitely" take a COVID-19 vaccine than the 55% of the population scientists estimate is needed to provide so-called "herd immunity". "Vaccines only work if people take them. Misinformation plays into existing anxieties and uncertainty around new (COVID) vaccines, as well as the new platforms that are…