I’ve had Covid-19, why should I get the vaccine?

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says the immunity people receive when they contract Covid-19 is no better than that people receive when they are vaccinated against the virus.

“A Covid-19 vaccine is a safer and more reliable way to build immunity to Covid-19 than to contract Covid-19,” the institute said.< /p>

The World Health Organization ( WHO), in its preliminary statement on hybrid and other forms of Covid-19 immunity, says infection-induced immunity is less effective than vaccine-induced immunity, months after the administration of vaccine doses.

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Infection-induced immunityis immune protection in an unvaccinated person after one or more SARS-CoV -2 infections;

Vaccine-induced immunityis immune protection in e A person who has not previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2 but has received a primary course (one or two doses of the EUL Covid-19 vaccine depending on the product) of any Covid-19 vaccine or has also received a booster dose.

TheInternational Coalition of Medicines Regulators and the WHOhas recently updated guidelines for healthcare professionals on the Covid-19 vaccine published.

The first Covid-19 vaccinations (two doses of Pfizer or one dose of J&J) were said to offer more than 75% protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death. This protection can last about six months.

This protection is extended by several months with a booster vaccination.

“During those who become infected with SARS-CoV-2 after primary vaccination usually develop a milder disease, protection against the severity of the infection appears to decrease over time without a booster dose.”

WHERE CAN I GET MY Booster Shot?

The government and private sector have launched thousands of vaccination centers across the country where you can get booster shots against Covid-19 for free.

Click here to see vaccination centers near you. You can also get the jab at Clicks or Dis-Chem pharmacies. You can find a Clicks vaccination page here and a Dis-Chem page here.

The health department and health organization Right-to-Care have launched the FindMyJab.co.za app to help it to make it easier for everyone to find the nearest vaccination center with a smartphone, laptop or tablet.