Can you get COVID-19 twice? Prof Salim Abdool Karim explains
Salim Abdool Karim is a South African epidemiologist and infectious diseases specialist.
Professor Salim Abdool Karim joined Breakfast with Martin Bester to also talk about everything you need to know about COVID-19 in SA right now.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Karim was chosen to lead a 45-person Ministerial Advisory Committee.
Professor Karim says, biologically, it appears that the virus can now bind more efficiently to human cells. This is what causes the new variant to be more successful at infecting people. Karim says more people are getting sick as a result. The new variant is the 501Y.V2 variant.
WHEN IS SOUTH AFRICA GETTING THE VACCINE?
Professor Salim Abdool Karim: ”All dependant on procurement processes that I have no knowledge of. We will probably see many more vaccines. At the moment, three vaccines have published their data. When we will get the vaccine is dependent on the government of South Africa.”
WHAT IS A VACCINE?
This applies to any vaccine. It is coming into your body and mimicking the actual virus. Your body gets exposed to it and establishes a response to deal and fight it. It prevents hospitalisation. If you’re vaccinated, you can still get COVID-19 but it will be a lot less deadly or in some cases you won’t even know you had it.
Why aren’t South Africans getting the 95% efficiency vaccine? Listen to the full conversation between Martin Bester and Professor Salim Abdool Karim below: