- \n
- Pain at the injection site (84.1%);<\/li>\n
- Fatigue (62.9%);<\/li>\n
- Headache (55.1%);<\/li>\n
- muscle pain (38.3%);<\/li>\n
- Chills (31.9%);<\/li>\n
- Joint pain (23.6%);<\/li>\n
- Fever (14.2%);<\/li>\n
- Injection site swelling (10.5%);<\/li>\n
- Injection site redness (9.5%);<\/li>\n
- Nausea (1.1%);<\/li>\n
- Malaise (0.5%);<\/li>\n
- Lymphadenopathy (0.3%).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In a clinical study, adverse reactions in adolescents 12 through 15 years of age<\/strong> include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Pain at the injection site (90.5%);<\/li>\n
- Fatigue (77.5%);<\/li>\n
- Headache (75.5%);<\/li>\n
- Chills (49.2%);<\/li>\n
- Muscle pain (42.2%);<\/li>\n
- Fever (24.3%);<\/li>\n
- Joint pain (20.2%);<\/li>\n
- Injection site swelling (9.2%);<\/li>\n
- Injection site redness (8.6%);<\/li>\n
- Lymphadenopathy (0.8%);<\/li>\n
- Nausea (0.4%).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Debate is also accelerating in the US and Europe over whether booster shots will be needed, and if so, when and in which subgroups of patients, Bloomberg reported.<\/p>\n
Pfizer has cited data suggesting the efficacy of its vaccine against mild cases may start to fade after around six months, even though protection against severe cases remains strong. Meanwhile, Moderna Inc has said trial results show that its vaccine held up well over six months. But executives from both companies have argued that people will eventually need booster shots.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, a preliminary study conducted by Israel\u2019s largest health maintenance organisation found that most people who received a booster shot of the Pfizer Inc-BioNTech SE Covid-19 vaccine had similar or fewer side effects than they did after the second dose.<\/p>\n
Of the 4,500 respondents to the survey, 88% reported \u201ca similar or better feeling\u201d than their reaction to the previous dose, with 31% saying they had localized effects like pain or swelling in the area of injection, according to a statement from Clalit Health Services earlier in August.<\/p>\n
Approximately 15% of people had other symptoms like tiredness, muscle aches or fever. Less than 1% reported difficulty breathing or chest pains, Bloomberg reported.<\/p>\n
Israel became the first country in the world to disseminate booster shots widely in a bid to quell a surge in new cases.<\/p>\n
Vaccines in South Africa\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
As of Monday (16 August), the total number of vaccines administered in South Africa is 9,557,542.<\/p>\n
The vast majority of these vaccines are from Pfizer (7,431,606), with 5,360,100 people receiving their first shot and 2,071,506 receiving their second shot to date.<\/p>\n
By comparison, 2,125,936 single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been administered, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), a division of the National Health Laboratory Service.<\/p>\n
The institute reported 7,983 new Covid-19 cases in South Africa, representing a 21.1% positivity rate. As per the National Department of Health, a further 299 Covid-19 related deaths have been reported, taking total fatalities to 77,440 to date.<\/p>\n
The total number of vaccines administered in the past 24 hours is 158,103.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Pfizer-1.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nHealth minister Dr Joe Phaahla said that the government plans to open Covid-19 vaccines to all adults in South Africa weeks earlier than expected.<\/p>\n
The country is officially set to open vaccinations to people between 18-35 from 1 September. However, Phaahla said his department is in consultations to move this date up to the end of this week – 20 August.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are in further consultations with our leadership in cabinet, (and) we will probably before the end of this week open for all adults above 18,\u201d he told\u00a0702<\/a><\/strong>. \u201cIf not this week, then not later than next Monday (23 August) for all adults.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Pfizer-2.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/NICD-1.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Booster shots may be necessary\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
Data published this week shows that Moderna\u2019s vaccine may be the best option against the Delta variant of Covid-19 \u2013 and that a booster shot may be necessary if you have taken any of the other available vaccines.<\/p>\n
In a study of more than 50,000 patients in the\u00a0Mayo Clinic Health System<\/a><\/strong>, researchers found the effectiveness of Moderna\u2019s vaccine against infection had dropped to 76% in July when the delta variant was predominant.<\/p>\n