The Progressive Health Forum has recommended that people in South Africa, particularly those over 50 years of age, receive COVID-19 booster shots. This follows the recent announcement by the World Health Organization that the disease is no longer a global health emergency.
While the South African health system is recovering well from the COVID-19 pandemic, the forum has advised that the public should not forego booster shots. The deadly coronavirus has placed tremendous strain on health services in South Africa over the last three years, and while healthcare facilities are experiencing less pressure, it is still important for people to get their COVID-19 booster shots and flu shots to minimize the threat of infections.
The advocacy group believes that receiving booster shots will relieve the pressure on health facilities and ensure that the country does not experience another spike in COVID-19 infections. Aslaam Dasoo, a representative of the forum, said that those over 50 should have received two boosters after the initial vaccines by now. In South Africa, infections continue at a sub-spike level, with low numbers of admissions and deaths.
The forum emphasized that both the flu shot and the boosters are recommended for those over 50 years of age. It is vital to continue taking preventative measures to protect against COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, and receiving booster shots is an important step in achieving this goal.