We all want to be able to have a safe Christmas – unlike 2020 – and want to be able to still enjoy time with our loved ones.

The Western Cape Department of Health says we can only do so if we are fully vaccinated – and October is a crucial month to get full protection.

Here is how you can ensure you are fully protected when Christmas comes:

• Receive you first Pfizer dose by latest 20 October (to allow for the time interval between doses)
• Receive second dose latest two weeks before Christmas – between 1 and 11 December (it takes 2 weeks for your immunity to build up maximum protection after the second dose)
• Christmas – 25 December

We acknowledge there are some more hurdles to overcome, but we are here, we have vaccines, we have vaccination sites, we are taking it into communities. All we ask of our citizens is to take up the opportunity to get vaccinated so we can ensure many more lives can be saved during the fourth wave.

In the Western Cape nearly 25% of all adults are fully vaccinated. Nationally, 21% of adults have been fully vaccinated.

The Department has reiterated that vaccines are safe, and is a guarantee against severe illness and death.