Health minister Joe Phaahla said the side-effect of heart inflammation in young boys will be closely monitored.
123RF/Katarzyna Białasiewicz
As the Covid-19 vaccination rollout for children between the ages of 12 and 17 years draws nearer, parents have expressed concern about a statement made by national health department acting director-general Dr Nicholas Crisp that this age group will not need parental consent. “Children do not need their parent’s consent generally for any medical treatment, but parents can give consent for their children to get vaccinated. It is possible for a child between the ages of 12 and 17 years to go for vaccination at a health service without their parent’s consent,” Crisp told eNCA on Friday.
This provision further extends to children over 12 years consenting to the performance of surgical procedures for themselves and their children provided they are mature enough to understand the risks and are duly assisted by their parents or guardians. Health minister Joe Phaahla told the media on Friday the vaccination of the age cohort will launch on October 20.
Sahpra told TimesLIVE children will experience the same side-effects as adults, adding that studies have also shown rare cases of heart inflammation in young boys after receiving the second dose. “The VMAC advised that for now, we only give one dose while assessing information which suggests that in a few cases there have been short-lived cases of transient myocarditis after two doses.
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