It’s a race against time, but experts say that vaccines — due to be rolled out more broadly from May 17 — are unlikely to save SA from a Covid third wave.
Professor Wolfgang Preiser, a virologist at Stellenbosch University, told the Sunday Times the challenge was the pace of the rollout, which will initially target people over 60.
Wits University vaccinology expert Professor Shabir Madhi said much is riding on “how quickly we get people vaccinated, and when the third wave arrives”. Earlier this week, the South African Covid-19 Modelling Consortium released data on five possible scenarios for a third wave.Wolfgang Preiser, above, virologist at Stellenbosch University
The third wave would likely cause fewer infections than the second wave, but a “slow, weak behavioural response would increase admissions for severe or critical cases across most groups”, the consortium said.“So many of them are now vaccinated that we should see fewer getting infected during the next wave, which will be very valuable to keep the health system running,” he said.
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