Why vaccinate?

7 Oct

Childhood & Maternal Vaccines in South Africa: What Matters Now (and What’s Coming)

Vaccines aren’t a debate. They’re the reason fewer South African children land in hospital with measles, pneumonia or severe diarrhoea. The problem with vaccines that some people don’t realise is that the protection and disease prevention we get from it is so good, that we forget why we needed them in the first place. Unfortunately a lot of disinformation has spread and caused vaccine hesitancy around the world and for the first time in decades we are seeing high numbers of children dying from preventable diseases.

The national Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI-SA) protects kids from birth through school years and shields newborns via maternal shots in pregnancy. Remember to check your child’s road-to-health-book (or vaccine card) to see when vaccines are due. You can get all EPI vaccines for free in the government sector.

What vaccines prevent:

Measles & Rubella – severe illness and birth defects.
Polio – paralysis.
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough) – life-threatening illnesses for infants.
Pneumococcal disease (PCV) – pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis.
Rotavirus – severe diarrhoea and dehydration in babies.
Hepatitis B & Hib – liver disease, pneumonia and meningitis.
HPV – cervical cancer.

Private sector extras (optional): MMR/MMRV, Varicella, Hepatitis A, Meningococcal, seasonal influenza, COVID-19 boosters.

Are vaccines safe?

Yes. Vaccines on our schedule go through multi-phase trials, independent regulatory review, batch testing and strict cold-chain handling. After rollout, adverse events are investigated and acted on. Expect mild, short-lived effects like a sore arm, redness or low fever; serious reactions are very rare, and clinics are equipped to manage them. The diseases carry far greater risk.

Maternal protection during pregnancy

Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis): 1 dose in every pregnancy, typically given around 26–34 weeks. This is the single best way to protect newborns from whooping cough in the first months of life.

Catch-up: don’t wait - some windows close

Missed a visit? Health care workers can build a catch-up plan, but not all vaccines can be given at any age.

BCG: only before 12 months.
Oral Polio early dose (OPV-0/1): not after 6 months.
Rotavirus: must be completed by 24 weeks of age.
Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-HepB-Hib): catch-up to 5 years.
PCV: catch-up to 6 years.
Measles/Rubella/Tdap: catch-up is allowed later.

What’s next: RSV protection is arriving - Maternal RSV vaccine (Abrysvo®)

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a major cause of infant hospitalisation each winter. This is the current update on the vaccine given to pregnant mothers:

Regulatory status: SAHPRA approved Pfizer’s maternal RSV vaccine in December 2024; it’s already available in the private sector.
WHO status: The vaccine was WHO-prequalified in March 2025, opening the door to wider procurement and public-sector use in lower- and middle-income countries.
Timing in pregnancy: South Africa’s advisory group (NAGI) notes vaccination must occur at least 14 days before birth to ensure antibody transfer; guidance discusses the optimal gestational window to avoid missed protection for early births.

What this means for parents: If you’re pregnant and have private access, talk to your provider about Abrysvo now. For public clinics, watch for Department of Health announcements as funding and rollout decisions are finalized.

Fast answers to common worries

“Too many shots at once?” Safe. Schedules are designed to minimise visits without overloading the immune system.
“Should we wait until they’re older?” No. Delays leave kids exposed—and you may miss the age limits for OPV and Rotavirus.
“Mild cold today?” Usually fine to vaccinate; ask the nurse.
“Will it cause autism"?” No. There has been extensive research to show that vaccines do not have a causative link with autism.

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