Because older people are at greatest risk of serious illness or death if they contract Covid-19, they will be particularly vulnerable during a fourth wave.Professor Debbie Bradshaw, chief specialist scientist at the SA Medical Research Council , says:
We can’t avoid a fourth wave if there is another mutation. What we can do is minimise the destruction and clogging of hospitals with people who could have been protected. “The difference will be even bigger for the 50 to 59 age group [which was only eligible for vaccination later],” he adds.Right in the beginning they went from village to village and were strong on community outreach. I don’t think we’ve tried that in all areas.Bradshaw doubts that vaccine hesitance or anti-vaccination sentiment was behind the overall low vaccination figures in the older age groups.
She expresses concern about townships, but cautions that her knowledge centres on the Cape metropole townships.
...to have them die as a coincidence?