For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: J&J booster jabs start for Sisonke trial healthcare workers;  Govt hopes to achieve 500 000 vaccinations during second Vooma Vaccination weekend; And, Rand Water warns of 54-hour water shutdown in parts of Gauteng

J&J booster jabs start for Sisonke trial healthcare workers

The Covid-19 vaccination booster programme kicked off today among healthcare workers who took part in the original Sisonke study. 

The SA Medical Research Council and the health department wants to get the boosters in before the fourth wave of the pandemic, expected to start in December, to protect healthcare workers. 

The department explained that, at the moment, boosters would only be available to healthcare workers who took part in the Sisonke trial. 

They will receive an invitation by SMS on the number they used to enrol for the first part of the study, and would be required to give consent online again via a form on the EVDS. 

Govt hopes to achieve 500 000 vaccinations during second Vooma Vaccination weekend

Government will hold its next Vooma Vaccination Weekend between November 12 and 14, and this time it hopes to achieve 100% success rate of vaccinating 500 000 people over three days.

In September the Vooma Vaccination Weekend achieved 75% of its target.

Health Department spokesperson Foster Mohale said this Vaccination Weekend comes at a time when the rate of new Covid-19 infections is low in South Africa, but that a Covid-19 fourth wave is expected early in the new year.

He added that while the country is unlikely to avert the fourth wave, a higher vaccination rate over the next month could substantially reduce its impact, especially if coverage among people aged 50 and older is accelerated.

And, Rand Water warns of 54-hour water shutdown in parts of Gauteng

Rand Water has warned of a 54-hour water shutdown in parts of Gauteng, from next Monday.

According to Rand Water, their bulk water supplier is working on its raw water pipe that supplies the Vereeniging water purification plant.

Rand Water said as a result, the purification plant will not be operational from 15 November  at 05:00 for a period of 54 hours.

This will affect the water supply from the Rand Water Eikenhof pump station to the south of Johannesburg, the CBD and the northern and western areas as the supply will be reduced by 25%.

Water supply from the Rand Water Swartkoppies system to the central CBD will be reduced by 50%.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter [@Polity ZA]