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Gauteng health system is heading for catastrophe

Coronavirus Dennis Webster -

While officials remain entangled in bureaucratic knots, clinicians warn that the continued closure of the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital risks a ‘humanitarian disaster’

Vaccine technology transfer hub a win for South Africa

Coronavirus Eunice Stoltz -

The first batch of locally manufactured jabs could be expected in the next nine to 12 months

[VIDEO] Keep calm & jab on: These numbers will boost your faith in Covid-19 vaccines

Coronavirus Aisha Abdool Karim, Joan Van Dyk & Yolanda Mdzeke -

Allergic reactions, unusual blood clots and heart inflammation have all been linked to Covid vaccines. But most people won’t experience these severe reactions. Watch this easy explainer

Oxygen supplies in Gauteng remain stable amid third wave

Coronavirus Eunice Stoltz -

More than 1 500 patients in Gauteng are currently on oxygen assistance

The EVDS will schedule your appointments six weeks apart. Here’s why

Coronavirus Aisha Abdool Karim & Joan Van Dyk -

South Africa has doubled the interval for the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. We take a look at what other countries have done and the evidence for the move

As South Africa’s Covid infections surge, the number of jabs can’t increase, yet

Coronavirus Chris Bateman -

Hospitals are under strain, nurses are burning out and infections are on the rise, but there are limited Covid-19 vaccine doses available

Study finds too much salt can damage immune cell function

Health Boitumelo Kgobotlo -

The study investigated how sodium intake affects human cells by giving participants 6g of salt in tablet form each day for 14 days, while they continued with their normal diets.

Parliament’s health committee no closer to Digital Vibes contract answers, awaits SIU report

Health Eunice Stoltz -

Thursday was the first time acting health minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane appeared before the committee, but she did not have many answers for MPs

What happens when you walk into a vaccination site? We break it down

Health Mohale Moloi & Aisha Abdool Karim -

The health department has issued new guidance on how South Africa’s Covid-19 vaccination sites should handle ‘walk-ins’.

Hospital fire leaves South African cancer patients in the cold

Health Laura López González -

When one of the country’s biggest public cancer treatment centres fell victim to fire and left more than a thousand patients waiting for treatment, an uncomfortable truth rose from the ashes.

How to ensure the Covid-19 response in Africa benefits future generations

Health Open Letter -

Six ways to invest in health systems and be better prepared for the next pandemic as Africa responds to Covid-19

Two-million new J&J jabs to come within two weeks, says Aspen

Health Mia Malan -

Johnson & Johnson plans to replace our two-million unusable vaccines by July. The vaccines are unsuitable for use and must be destroyed, while the country’s vaccination programme is behind schedule

Covid jab tech helps fight malaria

Health Chris Bateman -

An estimated two-thirds of malaria deaths are among children under the age of five, most of them in Africa.

Three for three: Understanding the Covid-19 variants circulating during South Africa’s third wave

Health Aisha Abdool Karim -

Which variants have been detected in SA and how do they differ? Each form of the virus behaves slightly differently and could affect what the pandemic looks like. We break it down.

How do we know if SA is in a third Covid-19 wave — and could there be a fourth?

Coronavirus Laura Grant, Alastair Otter & Mia Malan -

A team working with the country’s Covid ministerial advisory committee uses a formula to keep tabs on the rise of infections. Here’s how it works

Blinded by the glow of the ‘First World’ gaze

Coronavirus Steven Friedman -

The government’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout plan blatantly ignores the realities of life for the majority of South Africans. Sadly, this lack of insight and sense was to be expected

How to vax a nation – A dummy’s guide to getting a Covid jab

Coronavirus Aisha Abdool Karim, Joan Van Dyk & Yolanda Mdzeke -

You can only get in line for a Covid-19 vaccine if you register. Here’s how to do it

South Africa’s not reaching herd immunity. Our new goal is containment

Coronavirus Bhekisisa Team -

South Africa’s stop-start roll-out is not the only reason herd immunity is unrealistic for 2021. A constrained vaccine supply and new variants also play a role

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