October Newsletter
Vaccinations: Where Are we Now?
After the multi-phased national rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations first began in February this year, there is some encouraging news for South Africans. As of the end of September 2021, more than 17.5 million citizens (that’s 32% of the country’s adult population) have received at least one dose of the vaccine, meaning they are at least partially protected against the worst effects of the virus.
SA Youth Driving Progress
The majority of vaccinations in South Africa were given in the past two months. Between February and the end of June 2021, South Africa administered approximately 3.2 million doses. However, in July alone, around 4.5 million doses were administered.
The daily vaccination rate has continued to improve in September. This is partly thanks to the increased number of doses arriving in the country and a willingness of the 18-34 age group to get the jab. When registration for this age group opened up on 20 August, more than half a million South Africans enrolled to get the vaccine in just one day.
20% of the country’s adult population is now fully vaccinated. During the last week reported, South Africa averaged about 150,051 doses administered each day. At that rate, it will take a further 79 days to administer enough doses for another 10% of the population.
SA Youth Driving Progress
The majority of vaccinations in South Africa were given in the past two months. Between February and the end of June 2021, South Africa administered approximately 3.2 million doses. However, in July alone, around 4.5 million doses were administered.
The daily vaccination rate has continued to improve in September. This is partly thanks to the increased number of doses arriving in the country and a willingness of the 18-34 age group to get the jab. When registration for this age group opened up on 20 August, more than half a million South Africans enrolled to get the vaccine in just one day.
President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the country’s youth for their efforts to get vaccinated and do their part to stop the spread of the virus. “The young people of our country are giving us all hope that an end to this time of hardship is within our sights” said Ramaphosa.
How Does SA Compare?
South Africa’s vaccination rate is high above the African continent’s average, but there is still much room for improvement.
In Morocco, as of September 19th, more than half of the country’s total population has been either partly or fully vaccinated. Tunisia also currently has a higher vaccination rate than South Africa, relative to the population sizes of the country.
Make Your Vaccination Appointment Today
If you still need to get vaccinated, you can register quickly and easily using the SA Coronavirus online portal.
- Anybody aged 18 or older can now get vaccinated.
- Registering online can speed up the process.
- You don’t need to wait for an SMS before going to get vaccinated – many sites are accepting walk-in appointments.
You can also visit the SA Coronavirus website to learn about the latest vaccine statistics or to find a vaccination site near you.
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Festive Season Planning Tips for this year
As lockdown restrictions start to ease, many of us are looking forward to the festive season holidays, hoping there will be more freedom to celebrate than there was in December 2020. Here are a few smart planning tips to help you enjoy the upcoming festive period with as little stress as possible.
10 Top Tips for a Stress-Free Festive Holiday
- Make a budget and stick to it. This includes your budget for gifts, travel, accommodation, groceries for cooking special festive meals, etc.
- Plan your errands and try to spread them out over a period of weeks, so you don’t end up feeling overwhelmed by trying to do too many things at once.
- Do your shopping online, or go to the mall outside of peak times when the shops will be less crowded.
- Make sure all your insurance policies (for travel, break-ins, etc) are up to date.
- Ask for help – don’t try to do everything on your own.
- Stick to a balanced diet and keep your portions small, so you can enjoy holiday treats without over-indulging. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
- Make sure you schedule some quiet time for yourself to relax and de-stress.
- Put a limit on your daily screen time. Switch off your laptop and put your phone on silent.
- Be aware that things could change without warning due to the pandemic. If you’re booking accommodation, find out about their cancellation and refund policies. This will help to prevent you from losing money unexpectedly.
- Follow the health and safety measures in place, such as wearing your mask and washing your hands.
After a challenging year, you deserve a happy and stress-free holiday season. Make the most of it by planning ahead and taking steps to protect your health.
The Facts about Crash Dieting
As the summer months approach, some of us look towards crash diets as they promise speedy weight-loss results, but are they worth it? The question is an important one as a lot of health professionals are not in favour of crash diets and some even going so far as to advise that they can be bad for your health.
What is a Crash Diet?
A crash diet is a short-term diet plan that puts extreme restrictions on the individual dieting, in order to lose weight quickly. Some crash diets cut out entire food groups, and others are restricted to just one type of food. Examples of these include diets like juice cleanses, soup diets and fasting.
Why Someone May Want to Avoid Crash Diets
Here are several reasons why crash diets may simply not be worth the effort.
- They require you to eat far fewer calories than your body needs, leaving you hungry and unsatisfied all day. This also means you’ll be more vulnerable to bingeing if you get too hungry.
- You’ll have lower energy levels and might even start to feel weak and dizzy.
- They slow down your metabolism, meaning you will actually burn fewer calories.
- These meal plans often cut valuable nutrients (like carbohydrates and fats) out of your daily diet.
- Calorie restriction and rapid weight loss make you lose muscle mass.
- A sudden extreme diet can negatively affect your memory, concentration and mood.
- They can give you temporary results but these won’t last in the long run.
A Healthier Alternative
There are plenty of smarter ways you can manage your calorie intake and control your weight in a healthy, sustainable way – without resorting to crash dieting. These include regular exercise, portion control and eating more whole foods and less processed foods.
Don’t be fooled by clever marketing and empty promises. A balanced daily diet and fun active exercise will keep you happier and healthier than a crash diet could.