Vaccine hesitancy could lead to Covid-19 spike in children, Sama warns
The South African Medical Association (Sama) is warning vaccine hesitancy among the older population and eligible parents might lead to a rise in child coronavirus infections.
It’s pleading with those over 50 and parents in sectors such as education and the police to register for a jab.
Sama’s Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa says if more people get a Covid-19 shot, it will help reduce the youth transmission rate.
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"We have to be very creative and innovative when it comes to this issue of vaccine hesitancy.
"We know that there are lots of things being said about vaccines on social media, so that will mean we need lots of education to inform the public of their rights but also the advantages of having a vaccine."
According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), more than 184 000 children under the age of 19 tested positive for the coronavirus between March 2020 and June 2021.
Around 11 000 of them were in hospital, while 401 died.
