The first case of COVID-19 Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 or ‘The Kraken’ (dubbed as such by international media) was detected in South Africa (SA) by the Network for Genomics Surveillance team at Stellenbosch University from a sample collected late in December 2022 (1) (2) (3).
Some of our members have been questioning the efficacy of the vaccines available in South Africa against the new Kraken variant of the coronavirus.
What has been called a new variant in social media is actually BA.2.75, a sub-variant of Omicron that was first detected in India in May 2022. It has not officially been named by the WHO, but rather got the name “Centaurus” as a suggestion by a Twitter user. It has however been classified a variant of concern by WHO and is being watched closely.
It was recently announced that a person with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) passed away after being vaccinated with the COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen, also known as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Persons 50 years and older are eligible to receive an additional booster dose of the Comirnaty® (Pfizer) vaccine, as long as a period of at least 120 days has passed since they received their last COVID-19 vaccination.
Self-care means that every individual will aim to stay as fit as possible and to maintain a good physical and mental health status.
We share the following statement from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) about the use of the drug Ivermectin in the treatment of COVID-19.
With a recent outbreak of monkeypox confirmed, we would like to share the following information with our members regarding monkeypox, what it is, transmission, symptoms, treatment and additional information
A comparison between vaccinated and non-vaccinated hospital admissions for COVID-19
All indications are there that South Africa will soon be dealing with its fifth wave of COVID-19 infections
It’s strongly recommended that you get vaccinated against coronavirus (COVID-19) if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
With the continued decline in COVID-19 infections in South Africa, the following measures have been put in place by Government with effect from 23 March 2022:
Vaccines have been shown in controlled trials and in the evaluation of national vaccination programmes (e.g. United Kingdom) to reduce severe disease and mortality by up to 95 to 97%.
With some schools already closed for the holidays and the Easter long weekend on the way, here are a few ideas for outdoor activities that are less likely to promote the spread of COVID-19.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, you may experience stress, anxiety, fear, sadness and loneliness. And mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, can worsen. Heart problems and a weakened immune system can also arise as a result of high levels of stress.
The Department of Health has announced the following changes to the dosing intervals and the type of vaccines you can receive as a booster.
Whilst the COVID-19 vaccination programme initially recommended a 14-day interval between an individual receiving a COVID-19 vaccine and any other vaccination, this is no longer required.
Vaccinated members are able to go for booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccines, and the Scheme highly recommends this.
As you are reading this, you are probably preparing for the festive season and December holidays.
The following is an excerpt from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation on Sunday, 28 November, with regards to the new Omicron variant identified in South Africa.
With only about 22 000 0001 people vaccinated in South Africa thus far, we are still far from preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus and getting as close to normal as possible.
South Africa has enough Covid jabs to vaccinate up to half of the country’s 6.5 million children between the ages of 12 and 17 with one dose of Pfizer’s vaccine before they return to school after the December holidays or start their tertiary education in 2022.
The Department of Health has scaled up its vaccination drive – with children between the ages of 12 – 17. Why? And why not? Know the facts. Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp chats to Dr Angelique Coetzee, President of the South African Medical Association.
The following is an excerpt from a recent article published on the Daily Maverick website.
Registration on EVDS has now opened for people 18 years and older.
There is a lot of information available about COVID-19 and the vaccines, so it’s wise to get your information from credible sources.
July was Mental Health Awareness Month, and the global pandemic has certainly been serving as a reminder that one’s mental health is as important as one’s physical health.
Here’s reliable information about two of the buzzwords of our COVID-19 times: vaccine safety and herd immunity.
Chatting to other GPs in our collaboration, it certainly seems that there are more children with COVID than during the second wave, but Netcare hospitals haven’t seen an increase in paediatric COVID admissions.
Important: If you or someone in your household is at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, all family members should act as if they are at increased risk.
Hospital beds, including those in high care and ICU in both private and public hospitals, are filled to capacity.
The National Department of Health (NDoH) released these guidelines on 6 June 2021 that apply to both public and private health vaccination sites, but not to workplace sites.
The pandemic has changed how we work, learn and interact as physical distancing guidelines have led to a more virtual existence, both personally and professionally.
As we transition into winter, the country is bracing itself for the third wave of COVID-19 infections which could be more devastating than the second wave experienced earlier this year.
Please see below an update on South Africa’s vaccine rollout by Dr Zwelini Mkhize, Minister of Health, made on 26 April.
It’s now just over a year since South Africa declared a National State of Disaster in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We’re all stuck at home – there’s no escaping that fact (there’s no escaping anywhere actually).
Vaccines are considered one of the greatest developments in modern science.
As concerns about a possible third wave of COVID-19 gain momentum, so have concerns about whether vaccines will provide good protection against the variants. So what are the facts?
While we remain focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and its serious global and local impact, we should not forget to take measures to ensure our wellbeing during the upcoming winter season.
Whilst there’s currently a global focus on COVID-19 and the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines, we would like to remind all Fedhealth members about the upcoming flu season, and the importance of getting your annual flu vaccination.
We have been receiving calls from members with regards to when Fedhealth members will start obtaining the COVID-19 vaccination.
GENERAL INFORMATION WE’VE ALREADY COMMUNICATED WITH OUR MEMBERS
We’ve received queries regarding the acquisition of the COVID-19 vaccine by the private sector, medical aids in particular.
1. What is ivermectin?
We trust that you’re keeping healthy and staying positive amidst the coronavirus measures that have been put in place by our government this past weekend.
“Two-thirds (67%) of the South African adult population would definitely get or probably get a COVID-19 vaccine if it was available.”
The information below has been provided by the Department of Health via the sacoronavirus.co.za website and its COVID-19 and Vaccines guide.
COVID-19 vaccines have been topical and continue to raise several questions from the public, including when South Africa will receive vaccines, who will receive it first, and why vaccination is important.
As you probably know, at least 13 cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) infections have now been confirmed in South Africa.
With the widespread media coverage of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the increase of cases around the world, and the first cases confirmed in South Africa, it’s only understandable that you might be concerned or even panicking about what this means for you and your family.
Fedhealth understands our members’ concern around the Coronavirus (COVID-19), but armed with the right facts, the right behaviours and the support of your Scheme, there’s no reason to panic.
The possibility of a coronavirus vaccine becoming available soon is currently a hot topic.
When the coronavirus's severity first became apparent in 2020, we requested our members to delay elective (non-emergency) surgery until the worst of the outbreak was over.
We look back on quite a challenging 2020. There were plenty of ‘new normal’ situations to get used to, from living in lockdown, homeschooling, Teams or ZOOM online meetings, to social distancing and wearing masks in public.
We’re in the last quarter of a very difficult year. With the global pandemic showing no end in sight, unemployment rising, anxieties about education, future job security and healthcare all being top of mind, stress is creating significant upheaval.
In previous newsletters, we’ve emphasised the importance of members with chronic conditions taking extra good care of their health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the pandemic, Fedhealth Medical Scheme noticed increased admissions for natural vaginal deliveries (NVDs).
It’s been a year of upheaval, not least of all for our work and finances.
1. All COVID-19 tests covered from Risk for PUIs
It’s only human to feel as though your life has been upended by this year’s unexpected turn of events.
In these times of COVID-19, it’s wise to have a ‘risk-versus-benefit’ discussion with your healthcare professional where elective surgery is concerned.
Depending on what you’d like to know or do, there’s a host of ways you can reach Fedhealth, find information or manage your membership.
The experts at Sanlam Investments help unpack what South Africa’s downgrade means for your investments, and our economy.
The COVID-19 pandemic is gathering momentum in South Africa, and the number of infections and fatalities continue to increase as we move towards the peak of the infection.
Pregnancy is meant to be a very special time in a woman’s life, in which she must take especially good care of herself and her unborn baby.
Everywhere you look, people are wearing masks. Everywhere you go, sanitiser is being provided as required by government.
June is Men’s Health Month, and an opportunity for us to explore how this relates to COVID-19.
This pandemic has changed many things, with education being one of the most fundamentally altered aspects of our lives.
In a world that changes at breakneck speed – and a tough economic climate – being able to constantly upskill will give your CV the edge.
By now we all have a good understanding of the risks of COVID-19, and we understand what precautions we need to take.
Just visit your local grocery store and you’ll spot plenty of face masks of varying descriptions donned by the general public.
If you need to care for a loved one diagnosed with COVID-19, you need to ensure that you protect yourself and others in your home at the same time.
The lack of access to tobacco products during lockdown has seen many smokers make the decision to quit smoking for good.
All Fedhealth members have access to our Emotional Wellbeing Programme – a free, 24-hour telephonic support service to support you through any difficult times you might face.
If you managed to buy alcohol before the start of lockdown, you will have it readily available to you whenever you need or want it.
Here’s what you can do
For many South Africans, the national lockdown has resulted in job losses or loss of income.
If you’ve been meaning to quit smoking, but haven’t been able to give up the habit until now (voluntarily anyway), the lockdown restrictions on the sale of tobacco might just be a blessing in disguise for your health.
During COVID-19 lockdown, we are all advised to stay home unless it is absolutely necessary that we leave.
Here is the latest information we’d like to share with you with regards to coronavirus (COVID-19) and how Fedhealth is covering it:
As a medical scheme, we believe that it’s absolutely vital during these times that members maintain their good health and as such maintain their Fedhealth membership.
Whilst pharmacies are open during the lockdown, it’s preferable to only visit them when it’s absolutely necessary and to spend as short a time as possible in line.
The major pharmacies Clicks, Dis-Chem and MediRite are all offering delivery of chronic medication during lockdown.
We’re living in uncertain times, having never been in the position that we are in today with the coronavirus outbreak.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has already had a tragic impact on people’s health and lives.