KZN MEC urges people to get vaccinated

KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane has urged those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 to consider its impact on those close to them, who might be vulnerable to infections.

She was speaking at eDumbe during a vaccination roll out programme.

The province has vaccinated just over 2.7 million people since the process began in February, while more than 4. 4 million are yet to get their jab.

Simelane says these holidays she has been criss-crossing the province, promoting the massive health benefits of the vaccine, while shooting down the numerous misconceptions about the vaccine.

She says, “The intention of the Siyagoma waya waya programme is to go to people especially in townships and rural areas to ensure people vaccinate. In KZN, the numbers of those vaccinated is extremely low and we are worried about that, so we took the decision to go to communities themselves, here we are in a semi urban setting.”

“We had to come in and speak to people directly, some of them have raised different concern about the vaccine and we had to explain those concerns. Fortunately, we are travelling with health workers.”

Simelane says they will expand its vaccination pop-up sites at all Durban beaches on New Year’s Eve.

“On the 31st of December, as part of the Siyagoma waya waya programme, we are going to be at the beach in Durban where we will be conducting pop up sites. The intention is while people are having fun, they also get excess to vaccination – so they don’t have to stand in queues. So anyone who will be at the beach on the 31st can utilize our services.”

Boosters

Meanwhile, the country started rolling out third doses of the vaccines on Wednesday.

South Africa has so far administered over 20 million doses of Pfizer.

The South African Health Products Authority gave the green light to the third dose earlier this month.

VIDEO: Health Minister Dr. Sibongiseni Dhlomo speaks about the booster rollout: