Vaccines are effective

Vaccines have been shown in controlled trials and in the evaluation of national vaccination programmes (e.g. United Kingdom) to reduce severe disease and mortality by up to 95 to 97%. This lifesaving effect has continued, even as variants have emerged. Taking a vaccine will protect you and your loved ones from a devastating illness and/or death. Recently, vaccines have also been shown to reduce transmission of COVID-19 from one person to another. As early as the first clinical trials, vaccines have been shown to reduce but not prevent mild to moderate illness.

As COVID variants have emerged, research has shown that protection against COVID-19 is related to antibody levels. Booster vaccination with the J&J or Pfizer vaccine is a reliable and safe way of increasing antibody levels.

Boosters are recommended

Booster vaccination increases antibody levels and ‘T-cell responses’ to SARS-CoV-2. Laboratory testing has shown that high antibody levels are more effective at neutralising variants of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore booster vaccines help to improve protection from infection, especially during the fourth wave which is predominantly due to the Omicron variant.

Booster shots are safe

Side effects of booster vaccines are similar to side effects from a first vaccine. Common side effects include tiredness, body aches, and pains, low-grade fever, pain at the injection site. People who have a booster vaccine may experience these common side effects more frequently. These side effects resolve completely within 24-48 hours.

Occasionally, very rare side effects (for example, myocarditis, which may occur at 12.6 cases/million doses of Pfizer vaccine) may occur slightly more frequently after a second (or booster) vaccine.

If you have experienced any side effects after your first vaccine, you should report the side effect on the MedSafety app (see https://aefi-reporting.sahpra.org.za/report-aefi.html), and discuss the need for a booster with your healthcare provider.

You can ‘mix and match’ vaccines

You may now get a mixture of the J&J (Janssen) and Pfizer (Cominarty) vaccines against COVID-19 in South Africa. You just have to be fully vaccinated with the one, then ask for the other as a booster, after either 60 or 90 days, depending on which you got first.

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 Source:

https://www.nicd.ac.za/covid-19-vaccine-booster-shot-frequently-asked-questions/