Fourth Covid-19 wave and restrictions over South Africa’s summer will depend on vaccinations: Ramaphosa

SOUTH Africa’s vaccination efforts will be a key factor in limiting a potential fourth wave of Covid-19 infections at the end of 2021, says president Cyril Ramaphosa.

Responding in an oral Q&A in parliament on Friday (3 September), the president said that getting vaccinated was key to restarting normal activities in the country.

“Getting vaccinated is not only a personal choice about protecting yourself from infection. It is also about protecting others, including your family, friends and co-workers, and allowing the whole of society to return to normal activity more quickly.

“If we can vaccinate a large enough proportion of our population – particularly the adult population – by December, we can avoid another devastating wave of infections and restrictions on the economy,” he said.

Ramaphosa said that those who refuse to be vaccinated increase the risks for others – not only of a further resurgence of infections but of