All vaccines rolled out to the South African public are extensively reviewed before being authorised by the South Africa Health Product Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). Vaccines that have not received authorisation from SAHPRA are not permitted, by law, to be used in South Africa.

SAHPRA has close working relationships with global pharmaceutical and medical regulatory authorities and leverages these relationships and experience in evaluating vaccines considered for use in South Africa.

Prioritization of vaccines for South Africa is based on the above regulatory approval which primarily takes vaccine safety and efficacy into account. This is determined from the extensive clinical trials on vaccine candidates and clinical experience through the rollout in other countries.

A COVID-19 vaccine authorization and approval timeline:

SAHPRA first authorised the Pfizer-BioNtech (two-dose) vaccine in March 2021 (approved for people aged 12 and up in September 2021, as explained below), and the Johnson & Johnson (single-dose) vaccine in April 2021. At the beginning of July 2021, SAHPRA also provided conditional authorisation for the two-dose CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine, manufactured by Sinovac Life Sciences Co. As with the Pfizer-BioNtech and Johnson & Johnson vaccines currently being rolled out in South Africa, the Sinovac vaccine has been authorised in terms of Section 21 of the Medicines and Related Substance Act 101 of 1965, a mechanism in the Medicines Act that enables emergency use access and enables SAHPRA to authorise a medicine subject to certain conditions.

The Comirnaty vaccine by Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Ltd was approved on 25 January 2022, and the COVID-19 Vaccine MC Pharma by MC Pharma (Pty) Ltd. on 31 January 2022. Both vaccines have been registered in terms of section 15 of the Medicines and Related Substance Act (Act 101 of 1965 as Amended), with conditions.

• Pfizer now approved for 12 and up: The Comirnaty vaccine (2 doses) can be administered to individuals 12 years of age and older.
• COVID-19 Vaccine MC Pharma/ aka Sinopharm/BBIBP vaccine (2 doses) for people aged 18 and over

All vaccines authorised for rollout by SAHPRA require that various conditions are fulfilled, including that the vaccine manufacturers submit safety data on an ongoing basis and the results of clinical studies into the vaccines, which are ongoing.

• For more information about the Comirnaty and COVID-19 MC Pharma vaccines: "MEDIA RELEASE - SAHPRA registers two COVID-19 vaccines
• For more information please refer to SAHPRA: "MEDIA RELEASE ON THE APPROVAL PROCESS OF COVID VACCINES."
• Also refer to SAHPRA's very detailed FAQ published 23 July 2021 on the status of vaccines in South Africa.
• US FDA approves Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine

Since Dec. 11, 2020, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine had been available under Emergency Use Authorisation for people 16 years of age and older. This authorization was expanded to include those 12 through 15 years of age on May 10, 2021. On 23 August 2021 the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) approved the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. This is the US FDA's first approved COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.

On 10 September SAHPRA approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, in terms of Section 21 of the Medicines and Related Substance Act 101 of 1965 (The Medicines Act) to include individuals twelve years and older. This was as a consequence of the review of updated safety and efficacy information submitted as conditions of Section 21 (a mechanism that enables emergency use access and also enables SAHPRA to authorise the use of medicine subject to certain conditions) initially authorised on 16 March 2021. Read the detail.

In summary:

To date, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has registered/authorised the following COVID-19 vaccines, with conditions (which are based on the ongoing submission of safety, quality and efficacy data by the vaccine manufacturers):

• Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine (Comirnaty) - an mRNA vaccine, for people aged 12 and up (two doses given 21 days apart)
• Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine - a DNA viral vector vaccine, for people aged 18 and up (single dose)
• COVID-19 Vaccine MC Pharma, also known as Sinopharm or BBIBP vaccine - a vero cell vaccine (which means the vaccine delivers an inactivated form of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, to vaccinated people), for people aged 18 and up (two doses)
• Sinovac's "Coronavac" vaccine - an inactivated whole virion vaccine (which means the vaccine delivers an inactivated form of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, to vaccinated people), for people aged from 18 to 59 years (two doses with the second dose given two to four weeks after the first)

Though all four vaccines are authorised for use in South Africa, only the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are currently available as part of the National COVID-19 vaccine rollout programme.

All COVID-19 vaccines authorised for public rollout in South Africa and globally have undergone rigorous clinical trials and due process has been strictly adhered to.

Clinical trials refer to research that is done to answer a specific question about a medical product. These trials typically start with early research and then progresses to small-scale, late-stage and large-scale research. In a phase 1 clinical trial, the safety of a medical product like a medicine or vaccine is studied, normally in a small number of healthy volunteers. In phase 2, researchers look at the medicine's efficacy and the optimal doses needed. If all goes well, the trial proceeds to phase 3 (involving 3 000 or more participants). In phase 3, the focus is on showing and confirming the evidence found in the previous phases and to prove that a medicine or vaccine is safe, beneficial and effective for its intended purpose in a larger population of people.

All authorised COVID-19 vaccines have undergone rigorous, multi-phase testing including large, phase 3 clinical trials that have involved tens of thousands of people. These trials were specifically designed to ensure that the vaccines are safe and effective, and identify any common side effects or other safety concerns.

• Once a clinical trial has shown that a vaccine is safe and effective, a series of independent reviews of the efficacy and safety evidence is required. These include regulatory review and authorisation in the country where the vaccine is manufactured.
• All this needs to happen before the World Health Organization (WHO) considers a vaccine for what is called 'pre-qualification'.
• Vaccines that pass each level of scrutiny are then reviewed by an external panel of experts convened by the WHO. This panel, which is independent from the vaccine producer, analyses the clinical trial results of each vaccine along with other information and recommends whether the vaccine should be used, and if so, how the vaccine should be used.

SAHPRA's FAQ published 23 July 2021 explains: "Based on completed clinical trials for the vaccines, SAHPRA has registered the vaccine for use in South Africa, subject to certain conditions. These conditions include that the vaccine be supplied and administered in accordance with the National COVID-19 vaccination plan and guidelines. Furthermore, the companies must submit to SAHPRA longer term clinical data from ongoing studies to monitor the safety of the vaccine (pharmacovigilance) with agreed timelines, as outlined in their approved risk management plan."

Some of the vaccines being rolled out to the public have been authorised under what is known as emergency use authorisation (EUA) by the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA). In an emergency, like a pandemic, it may not be possible to present the FDA with all evidence usually required for approving a new medicine, medical device, or a medical test. In this case, the FDA issues EUA for the medicine (in this case COVID-19 vaccines), device or test based on the available evidence strongly suggesting that patients will benefit from the treatment or test. Outside of a declared emergency, EUA is never granted.

Furthermore, though a vaccine has EUA granted to it by the US FDA (or US FDA approval granted, as in the case of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine), before it is considered for the South African public, it is fully evaluated by SAHPRA, which conducts an in-depth and extensive scientific and clinical analysis of the safety and efficacy of all medical products used in South Africa.

This also means that close monitoring of vaccine recipients continues to track and document the full range of vaccine-related side effects and also to stay on top of vaccine effectiveness in preventing severe COVID-19 illness and death.

Furthermore, research focusing on vaccine efficacy against COVID-19 viral variants of concern is ongoing and used to guide South Africa's vaccine roll-out plan.

Read more on the reasons why COVID-19 vaccines being rolled out could be developed in a short space of time compared to traditional vaccine development.

• On 23 August 2021 the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) approved the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. This is the US FDA's first approved COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.
• On 10 September SAHPRA approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, in terms of Section 21 of the Medicines and Related Substance Act 101 of 1965 (The Medicines Act) to include individuals twelve years and older. This was as a consequence of the review of updated safety and efficacy information submitted as conditions of Section 21 (a mechanism that enables emergency use access and also enables SAHPRA to authorise the use of medicine subject to certain conditions) initially authorised on 16 March 2021. Read the detail.

By August 2021 almost 5 billion vaccine doses had been administered globally.

Monitoring of post-vaccine side-effects both during the clinical trials conducted during development of the vaccines and on an ongoing basis across the world wherever COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out, shows that some people experience side-effects post their vaccine dose while some may not.

In South Africa, people who are vaccinated are encouraged to report any severe and unexpected side effects (any side-effects not considered among those that are common and mild) through the Med Safety app launched by SAHPRA in April 2021. Read up on this app and how to download it for Android or IOS.

Countries across the world have similar monitoring systems. For example, in the United States of America, the CDC and FDA co-manage the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

It is important to note that all currently authorised and recommended COVID-19 vaccines are generally safe and effective, and one vaccine is not recommended over another - other than in rare cases, as explained below.

Most side effects experienced are mild, passing within two to three days. These common (expected) side-effects include the following:

On the arm where you received the vaccine:

• Pain, redness and/or swelling at the injection site

In the rest of the body:

• Fever
• Chills
• Tiredness
• Headaches
• Muscle pains
• Nausea

Side effects after a second vaccine dose may be more intense than after a first dose. These side effects are usually normal signs that your body is building protection and should go away within a 2 to 3 days. If you are concerned about your side effects or if they carry on for more than two to three days, please seek medical assistance.

Vaccines are only approved in South Africa after thorough and independent review of the scientific evidence. They are also closely monitored once on the market and can quickly be removed from the market if safety concerns are identified.

Like any medicine, vaccines may cause side effects. The medical treatment of any side effects is included in scheme benefits as a Prescribed Minimum Benefit (PMB). The government has also established a no-fault vaccine injury support programme similar to what has been implemented in other countries. This programme will provide support in the rare instance of a serious reaction to a vaccine approved for use in South Africa.

Rare, mild side effects:

According to the US CDC, fainting, rapid breathing, low blood pressure, numbness, or tingling can happen after getting any vaccine and may be related to anxiety. Although uncommon, these events are not unexpected, and they are generally not serious.

Serious side effects:

According to the US CDC, in the case of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine, women younger than 50 years old should especially be aware of the rare risk of blood clots with low platelets after vaccination (also called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome or TTS). Reports suggest an increased risk of TTS one- or two-weeks post vaccination with a reporting rate of:

• 7 per 1 million vaccinated women between 18 and 49 years old.
• For women 50 years and older and men of all ages, this adverse event is even more rare.

Seek medical care right away if you develop one or more of the possible symptoms of this TTS:

• Severe or persistent headaches or blurred vision
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Leg swelling
• Persistent abdominal pain
• Easy bruising or tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the injection site

Rare cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a neurological disorder in which the immune system attacks the nerves causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis, have been reported following vaccination with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. People usually recover from it, but it can lead to hospitalization and, sometimes, permanent damage to nerve cells. Most reported cases occurred within 42 days of vaccination.

There are other COVID-19 vaccines available (in South Africa the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine is available, and the Sinovac vaccine to be rolled out in future), which do not carry risk of this rare side effect. If you received a J&J COVID-19 vaccine, monitor your symptoms.

• Read the US CDC/FDA statement on this vaccine dated 23 April 2021.

A severe allergic reaction after a first mRNA vaccine dose is an extremely rare side effect

The US CDC cautions that anyone who has a severe or immediate allergic reaction after getting the first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or Moderna vaccine), should not get a second dose of either of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, but get a different vaccine, and be guided by your healthcare provider.

Heart inflammation (myocarditis and pericarditis)

SAHPRA explains: It is not yet clear if the very rare risk of heart inflammation seen mostly in young men who received the Pfizer vaccine is coincidental or caused by the vaccine. These effects were usually seen within two weeks after the second dose of the vaccine. These events are mostly mild and can be treated successfully, followed by a recovery shortly thereafter. People should therefore be aware of the symptoms and seek medical help immediately.

People who should not receive the Johnson & Johnson's Janssen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine:

Those who have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) or an immediate allergic reaction, even if it was not severe, to any ingredient in the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine (such as polysorbate).

• An immediate allergic reaction means a reaction within 4 hours of exposure, including symptoms such as hives, swelling, or wheezing (respiratory distress).
• A severe allergic reaction is one that needs to be treated with epinephrine or EpiPen or with medical care.

People who should not receive the Pfizer Bio-NTech vaccine:

According to the US CDC you should not have the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine:

• If you have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) or an immediate allergic reaction, even if it was not severe, to any ingredient in an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (such as polyethylene glycol).
  • A severe allergic reaction is one that needs to be treated with epinephrine or EpiPen or with medical care.
  • An immediate allergic reaction means a reaction within 4 hours of exposure, including symptoms such as hives, swelling, or wheezing (respiratory distress).

SAHPRA's vaccine FAQ (23 July 2021) goes into detail about what people who have allergies need to know about getting a COVID-19 vaccine including that:

Anyone with a history of food, insect venom, oral medication, environmental or latex allergies or a family history of anaphylaxis to other vaccines, should receive the COVID-19 vaccines. All people with any allergy that is unrelated to vaccines or injectable medicines must be observed for 30 minutes after vaccination.

Reports of adverse events following vaccination, including deaths, do not necessarily mean that the vaccine was the cause.

In South Africa:

Reports of deaths following immunisation are taken very seriously by both SAHPRA (which monitors all possible vaccine-related side-effects which are reported) and the National Department of Health.

SAHPRA explains: "They are however not automatically assumed to be caused by vaccination. A thorough investigation of causal association is currently underway to determine whether these deaths are because of vaccination or not. If these deaths are found to be related to the vaccines, then the benefit-risk profile of the vaccines will need to be re-evaluated. Assuming causality/relationship between the reported deaths and these vaccines without facts, may result in denying the public safe and effective vaccines based on wrong interpretations and conclusions about the data reported."

On 20 August SAHPRA released a statement indicating that South Africa has not recorded any vaccine-related deaths since the national rollout of COVID-19 vaccines commenced on 17 May 2021:

"To date, investigations for 32 death cases have been completed and causality assessment concluded, of which 28 were coincidental to vaccination. This means that these deaths were not related/linked to the vaccination. Four cases are unfortunately unclassifiable because there was either no information available about the case or the information was completely inadequate. Hence, causality assessment could not be conducted or concluded."

The US CDC adds to the picture in sharing that reports of death after COVID-19 vaccination are rare:

- More than 357 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the United States from 14 December 2020 to 16 August 2021. During this time, the CDC's VAERS reporting system received 6 789 reports of death (0.0019%) among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine.

- FDA requires healthcare providers to report any death after COVID-19 vaccination to VAERS, even if it's unclear whether the vaccine was the cause.

A review of available clinical information, including death certificates, autopsy, and medical records, has not established a causal link to COVID-19 vaccines.

Each COVID-19 vaccine has a particular dosing regimen (and when it comes to boosters, we can mix vaccine types to an extent):

• Johnson & Johnson (Janssen®) vaccine:
  • People older than 18 who have had one Johnson & Johnson vaccine dose can now have:

1. An additional third booster shot - either a Johnson & Johnson or a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster dose providing that a period of at least 180 days has elapsed since they received their last Covid-19 vaccination.
2. And, people aged 50 years and older can have a fourth booster dose, either a Johnson & Johnson or a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster dose providing that a period of at least 180 days has elapsed since they received their last Covid-19 vaccination. (More detail here).

• Pfizer (Comirnaty®) COVID-19 vaccine
  • For people over the age of 12 who haven't yet been vaccinated or have received their first dose, the interval between dose one and dose two is a minimum of 21 days.
  • People over age 18 who have had two Pfizer vaccine doses are able to receive a second booster shot - either a Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccine dose after a minimum of at least 180 days has elapsed since they received their last Covid-19 vaccination.
  • And, people aged 50 years and older can have a third booster dose, either a Johnson & Johnson or a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster dose, providing that a period of at least 180 days has elapsed since they received their last Covid-19 vaccination. (More detail here).

The offer of an additional booster dose for people aged 50 and older is part of government's efforts to increase vaccine uptake while also enhancing population immunity and protecting those most vulnerable to serious COVID-19 illness, especially those living with chronic illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension.

• Important: Please refer to our section further on in this FAQ, titled "Additional (booster) vaccine doses" for more information.

Each COVID-19 vaccine has a particular dosing regimen (and when it comes to boosters, we can now mix vaccine types):

• Vaccine availability is the main factor in your decision on which booster to have. For additional guidance around the best booster for you please chat to your healthcare professional.
• For adults 50 years and older will be eligible to receive a total of five doses, and adults 18 - 49 years will be eligible to receive a total of four doses.
• Where available, these doses should be administered using the Cominarty ^® vaccine. However, Covid-19 vaccine Janssen^® may also be used, if the Cominarty® vaccine is not available or if the person prefers to receive the Covid-19 vaccine Janssen^®

Those wanting to be vaccinated after recovering from COVID-19 illness should wait 30 days to pass after recovering from a COVID-19 infection before getting vaccinated.

You will need to add 30 days to the below recovery periods:

• 7 days after a positive COVID-19 test if you have no symptoms, or
• 7 days after the onset of your COVID-19
• If you had serious illness or went to hospital, please wait 7 days after you're clinically stable (no longer on oxygen).

If you have been exposed to COVID-19, please complete your isolation period (7 days from symptom onset) before getting vaccinated.

We cover this in more detail further on in this FAQ.

All children between the ages of 12 and 17 have been eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination since 20 October 2021. From 27 February 2023, children from the age of 5 to 11 who are at risk of severe COVID-19 disease can also receive two doses of the Comirnaty® paediatric Vaccine with a minimum interval of 21 days between each dose.

Your child will need to be registered on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS), using their ID or birth certificate, before being vaccinated.

Yes. Your child will need to provide original proof of identification such as a Smart ID card, birth certificate or passport. According to the current rules, you must bring the original identity documents. The ID documents provided at the site should be the same as that used for the child's EVDS registration.

All children between the ages of 12 and 17 receive two doses of Comirnaty® (Pfizer) vaccine with an interval of 21 days between doses.

From 27 February 2023, children from the age of 5 to 11 who are at risk of severe COVID-19 disease can also receive two doses of the Comirnaty® paediatric Vaccine. Read more

From 27 February 2023, children between the ages of 5 and 11 who are at risk of severe COVID-19 disease can receive two doses of the Comirnaty paediatric Vaccine® with a minimum interval of 21 days between each dose. This is applicable to an extensive list of conditions, among them:

• Chronic heart conditions
• Respiratory conditions
• Neurological conditions
• Endocrine conditions
• Kidney conditions
• Liver conditions
• Gastrointestinal conditions
• Immunosuppression (including asplenia or dysfunction on the spleen)
• Serious genetic abnormalities that affect a number of systems.

View the more detailed list (Annexure A of the circular dated 16 February 2023) here.

COVID-19 vaccination for children between the ages of 5 and 11 will be introduced in a phased approach. Vaccinations will initially be provided through the public sector only and provision will be made for both insured and uninsured children to access the service. Re-imbursement mechanisms for COVID-19 vaccinations administered in the private sector are currently being reviewed and will be included in future reimbursement processes.

The Pfizer vaccine (administered as two doses, a minimum of 21 days apart, to children who are between the ages of 12 and 17 years) has been shown to be safe. Children can experience common side effects such as pain at the injection site (upper arm), tiredness, headaches, muscle and joint pains, fever, and chills. These side effects are common, usually temporary and generally clear up within 48 hours.

Cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart) have been reported but remain very rare (60 per million vaccinated adolescent males) and are often seen in male adolescents (teens) and young adults. The myocarditis or pericarditis cases can be safely treated. The single dose of the Pfizer vaccine almost eliminates the risk of myocarditis which is mostly associated with the second dose when it does occur.

The Children's Act empowers a child of 12 years or older to consent to his/her own medical treatment if that child is of sufficient maturity and possesses the mental capacity to understand the benefits, risks, social and other implications of the treatment. Only where a child is not sufficiently mature or does not have the required understanding of the treatment, does a parent, guardian or caregiver of a child need to consent to the medical treatment on behalf of the child.

However, the Children's Act also stipulates that a parent, guardian or caregiver of a child may not refuse to withhold such consent by reason only of religious or other beliefs, unless that parent or guardian can show that there is a medically accepted alternative choice to the medical treatment concerned.

According to the Children's Act 38 of 2005, children from 12 years old do not need consent from their parents for medical treatment; they can give their own consent. The Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) allows children from the age of 12 to 17 to register themselves.

Children aged 5 to 11 years who are at risk of severe COVID-19 disease will need consent from a parent, guardian or caregiver. This consent must be given on registration and at the facility where the vaccination is done. The facility is responsible for storing the consent form as part of the child's patient record.

Experts recommend that pregnant and lactating women be vaccinated. In general, COVID-19 vaccines have been clinically proven to protect people from severe illness due to a COVID-19 infection. It's important to understand that, while pregnant women were not included in the initial vaccine trials, subsequently, thousands of pregnant women received COVID-19 vaccines around the globe. So far, vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective in pregnant women and youth and are encouraged.

We invite you to watch Discovery Health's webinar on "COVID-19 vaccines and children", streamed live to the public on 5 November 2021, to find out more about multiple aspects of vaccination for children.

All eligible South African residents must first register on the EVDS for their vaccination. Once registered you will receive a booking confirmation SMS via the EVDS system.

You can also book an appointment to have your vaccination at any partaking Dis-Chem. And, the National Department of Health in collaboration with health organisation Right to Care, has launched the app FindMyJab.co.za, which will make it easier for anyone to find the closest vaccination site using any device such as smartphone, laptop, table, etc.

For a full list of active vaccination sites around the country refer to the sacoronavirus portal.

Where the vaccine is administered abroad, plans with international cover i.e., all plans except KeyCare, will receive cover at the South African (SA) rate for the vaccine as if it was administered in SA (standard private sites).

Note: Members on the KeyCare Plans will have no cover for vaccines done outside of South Africa.

There will be a form of a vaccine certificate issued to members/residents of South Africa.

The South African government has developed an electronic vaccination data system (EVDS) to assist with the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines across the country, of which the vaccine certificate will form a part.

Discovery participated in the Business for South Africa (B4SA) workstreams for planning the roll out of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme alongside the National Department of Health. We contributed skills and expertise to support this national effort. Discovery Group CEO, Adrian Gore, worked with the Task Team appointed by the Minister of Health to support vaccine procurement.

Discovery also set up nine national mass vaccination sites in 2021, run in partnership with provincial Departments of Health. All of these had, by June 2022, been closed. Over one million members of the South African public had been vaccinated through these Discovery-run sites by the first quarter of 2022 - a significant achievement in support of the national effort.

Vaccinations is free of charge for all eligible South African residents across both the private and public health sectors.

The cost of the vaccines is defined by Government once the vaccines are registered.

From 1 April 2023, the National Department of Health confirmed that COVID-19 vaccines and administration costs will remain a Prescribed Minimum Benefit for medical scheme members, with the price of the COVID-19 vaccine Janssen® and Comirnaty® (Pfizer) being zero rated.

This will allow private providers to continue to claim for the vaccine administration cost, which is fixed at R100 (inclusive of VAT) per dose in both the public and private sectors. Click here for more information.

It is recommended that as many people as possible should be vaccinated for South Africa to ensure adequate protection for the population. Employer approaches to vaccination will depend on factors such as the industry and workplace safety requirements. On 11 June 2021, the Minister of Employment and Labour released the amended Consolidated Direction on Occupational Health and Safety Measures in certain Workplaces (the "Directive"). The Directive allows for employers to impose mandatory vaccination policies.

The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is managed by the National Department of Health (NDOH). Members will need to register on the National Department of Health's Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) to receive their vaccination code - which they need to present on the day of their scheduled vaccination.

The National Department of Health contacts members of the public when they are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine dose. This is done in line with the country's COVID-19 vaccination plan and priority (age) grouping.

Medical aid membership has no influence on when one becomes eligible for vaccination. Vaccines are available to everyone who is eligible and who chooses to get vaccinated.

The Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) gives individuals 3 opportunities to get their COVID-19 vaccination, the original appointment, plus 2 more if the first appointment is missed.

If one doesn't make all 3 scheduled appointments, they need to call the COVID helpline on 0800 029 999 and ask to be registered again.

The Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) gives individuals 3 opportunities to get their COVID-19 vaccination, the original appointment, plus 2 more if the first appointment is missed.

If one doesn't make all 3 scheduled appointments, they need to call the COVID helpline on 0800 029 999 and ask to be registered again.

Discovery clients also need to rebook your appointment at a Discovery vaccination site through our COVID-19 Vaccination Navigator.

We encourage family members, friends and relatives to help the elderly get registered on EVDS and the Discovery Vaccination Portal. If they are struggling, we can provide support through our call centre. However, EVDS and the Discovery Vaccination Portal have purposefully been designed to be extremely easy to use. We strongly encourage direct registration on these portals. EVDS will prioritise issuing of vaccination vouchers based on age. Oldest people go first.

You can book your vaccination at any of our Discovery Vaccination sites near you using our COVID-19 Vaccination Navigator. Alternatively, you can visit any participating vaccination site that is most convenient for you.

Adults aged 18 and above, who are registered for and on treatment for specific conditions are considered to be immunocompromised and are eligible for a specific COVID-19 vaccine regimen. These conditions are:

• Haematological or immune malignancy
• Moderate to severe Primary immunodeficiency disorder
• HIV infection with CD4 count < 200 cells/μL within the last 6 months
• Asplenia
• Individuals receiving the following treatments:
  • High dose steroids or systemic biologics (e.g. for autoimmune conditions)
  • Long term renal dialysis
  • Transplant recipients (Solid organ or bone marrow).

Each COVID-19 vaccine has a particular dosing regimen. According to the latest guidelines, immunocompromised adults may have either of the following two schedules:

Johnson & Johnson (Janssen®) vaccine:

People older than 18 who have had one Johnson & Johnson vaccine dose can have:

1. An Additional (second) dose - either a Johnson & Johnson or a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster dose after a minimum of 60 days after their initial dose.
2. A third dose or First Booster dose - either a Johnson & Johnson or a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine - 90 days after the additional second dose.
3. A fourth dose or Second Booster dose - either a Johnson & Johnson or a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine - 180 days after the third dose / first booster dose.

For more details please consult National Vaccination Programme

Pfizer (Comirnaty®) COVID-19 vaccine (available to those over age 12):

1. A Second dose - a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine dose, a minimum of 21 days after their initial dose.
2. A third dose / second Additional dose - either a Johnson & Johnson or a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine - a minimum of 28 days and a maximum of three months after the additional second dose.
3. A fourth dose or Booster dose - either a Johnson & Johnson or a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine - 90 days after the third dose / second additional dose.

To receive your additional vaccination dose, you need to do the following:

• Register on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) by selecting the relevant button on the landing page, for your additional dose. You should use the same identity number used for your EVDS registration and answer the Yes/No questions presented.
• Once you have registered successfully, you will receive your unique vaccination code via SMS to the mobile number EVDS has on record. The vaccination code for these doses will start with the prefix AD-IC-XXXXXXXX.

On your vaccination day, you will need to bring the following with you to the vaccination site:

• Your unique vaccination code, which you would have received via SMS
• ID/Passport
• Your EVDS COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate
• A letter confirming your eligibility as an immunocompromised individual.

As of Monday, 30th January 2023, all individuals 18 years and older will be eligible to receive an additional booster dose providing that a period of at least 180 days has elapsed since they received their last Covid-19 vaccination. Adults that are 50 years and older, will be eligible to receive a total of five doses, and adults 18 - 49 years will be eligible to receive a total of four doses.

Where available, these doses should be administered using the Cominarty ® vaccine. However, Covid-19 vaccine Janssen® may also be used, if the Cominarty® vaccine is not available or if the person prefers to receive the Covid-19 vaccine Janssen®

You're welcome to click on the below for more information:
https://sacoronavirus.co.za/2023/01/23/national-vaccination-programme-circular-1-of-2023/

The National Department of Health (NDoH) has communicated that the National Vaccination Programme will provide booster vaccine doses as follows:

Each COVID-19 vaccine has a particular dosing regimen (and when it comes to boosters, we can mix vaccine types):

• Johnson & Johnson (Janssen®) vaccine:
  • People older than 18 who have had one Johnson & Johnson vaccine dose can now have:
    1. A second dose / booster - either a Johnson & Johnson or a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster dose after a minimum of 60 days (2 months) and preferably before 6 months from the initial dose.
    2. A third dose / booster shot - either a Johnson & Johnson or a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster dose after a minimum of 90 days (3 months).
    3. A fourth dose / booster shot - either a Johnson & Johnson or a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster dose after a minimum of 180 days (6 months).
    4. And, people aged 50 years and older can have a fifth booster dose after a minimum of 180 days (around 6 months) since their last vaccination. (More detail here). The offer of an additional booster dose for people aged 50 and older is part of government's efforts to increase vaccine uptake while also enhancing population immunity and protecting those most vulnerable to serious COVID-19 illness, especially those living with chronic illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension.
• Pfizer (Comirnaty®) COVID-19 vaccine
  • For people over the age of 12 who haven't yet been vaccinated or have received their first dose, the interval between dose one and dose two is a minimum of 21 days.
  • People over age 18 who have had three Pfizer vaccine doses are able to receive a fourth (booster) dose of the Pfizer vaccine dose - a minimum of 180 days after their last dose.
  • And, people aged 50 years and older can have a fifth booster dose, (Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine after a minimum of 180 days (around 6 months) since their last vaccination.

Check the date of your last vaccine dose on your vaccination card to determine when you can have your additional booster vaccine dose.

No, the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) will send an SMS to all individuals when they become eligible to receive their additional dose. Look out for communication from the National Department of Health with further details.

The National Department of Health has confirmed heterologous boosting is currently permitted, this means that individuals have the option to receive either the same vaccine that they received as their primary vaccination dose or choose a different vaccine.

See full detail in the information shared at the start of this section.

No, you can visit any active vaccination site to get your booster dose.

You can also book an appointment to have your vaccination at any partaking Dis-Chem. And, the National Department of Health in collaboration with health organisation Right to Care, has launched the app FindMyJab.co.za, which will make it easier for anyone to find the closest vaccination site using any device such as smartphone, laptop, table, etc.

For a full list of active vaccination sites around the country refer to the sacoronavirus portal.