Jab rollout for 12-17 cohort to kick off on Wednesday
The Health Department says it is ready to rollout the Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday for children between the ages of 12 and 17.
They can receive one dose of the Pfizer jab.
"The Department of Health will tomorrow (Wednesday) commence with registration and vaccination of young people aged 12- 17 years old with Pfizer vaccine in line with the recommendations from the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Vaccines," says the department's Foster Mohale.
Mohale says opening access to the shots to teens will assist schools as they prepare for year-end exams.
He says, at the moment, there aren't plans to set up special vaccine sites at schools.
"Due to preparations for final year examinations, there won't be any special vaccination sites at schools for this age group now.
“Parents caregivers and legal guardians are encouraged to assist eligible young people to register and vaccinate at their public or private nearest vaccination site."
The Children's Act makes provision for children from the ages of 12 to 17, to give consent to certain medical treatments. Getting the Covid-19 shot would be one of them.
But 15-year-old Bayanda Mabasa from KwaZulu-Natal says he'll first get permission from his parents before taking the jab.
"Yes I am interested in taking the vaccine because I don't want to get sick. There are too many people dying from this disease, so I don't want to be a casualty in any of those deaths. I will inform my parents because today was the first time I heard of the children vaccinating."
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