Arthur Greene
Recent data has shown that during a peak week during the third wave of Covid-19, 98% of over-60s who died in the Western Cape were not fully vaccinated.
Of a group of 2,455 people who contracted the virus between 14 and 20 August, 92% were not fully vaccinated.
A person is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after their second Pfizer jab or 28 days after their sole dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
In light of these results, the Western Cape Department of Health said that the Covid jab is “highly effective” at preventing infection, hospitalisation and death of over-60s.
The department only recorded data within this age group because this was the only group with significant vaccine coverage at the time, according to TimesLIVE.
“From this data it is clear that vaccines are highly effective, and that getting fully vaccinated will help protect you from ending up in hospital or dying,” the department said in a statement.
“While the vaccine is not 100% effective, results of the current vaccines in use indicate they are both safe and highly effective and offer excellent protection against severe disease and death.”
Over 57% of people over the age of 60 in the region have now been fully vaccinated, as of 15 September.
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